With this sequel, Burton truly does justice to his eighties cult classic. Set over three decades after the events of Beetlejuice, this year’s release follows Lydia Deetz’s struggle to keep her family together as they mourn a loss. In the meantime, the demon Betelgeuse has returned to haunt her. The film not only sees several of the same iconic actors reprising their original roles (Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz, Winona Ryder as her daughter, Lydia, and Michael Keaton as the titular antagonist, a seedy ‘bio-exorcist’), but it features many new and memorable characters. Jenna Ortega stars as Astrid Deetz, Lydia’s apathetic daughter, and Monica Belluci joins the cast as Betelgeuse’s torn-up ex-wife, hell bent on revenge.
This sequel’s success owes a lot to its casting. We are yet again gifted with a hilarious and formidable performance from Keaton as Betelgeuse. To see Ortega featured on a cast list is often to expect a dark and troubled teenage character, and Astrid is no different. The actress embodies the ennui and passivity of Gen Z with refreshing nuance, reminiscent of young Ryder’s quintessential Lydia. She is her daughter, after all. Ortega’s dry comic style also blends seamlessly with the spirited humour and energy of the film. Equally, O’Hara never ceases to charm and Dafoe proves he is just as gifted in a comedic role as he is in anything else. Every cast member in this film is praiseworthy, and as an ensemble the actors bring Burton’s genius as a director and producer to life. Although DeVito’s character feels slightly pointless and Bellucci’s underused, neither of these directorial decisions have a significantly detrimental impact on the film’s magic.
Burton’s famous gift for mixing the dark and eerie with the fun and satirical shines through once again. He captures the tone and spirit of his original, successfully manoeuvring away from the classic trap into which dozens of prequels and sequels alike fall: a failed, pointless rehash. He is well aware that, just because a formula has worked in the past, doesn’t mean you can simply remake the same film and reap the same rewards. With a piece of media as beloved and memorable as 1988’s Beetlejuice, such a blunder would have been unforgivable.
Instead, the plot of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice moves away from the first in a fun and unpredictable fashion. Burton even manages to work in a musical number featuring the demonic possession of several characters. While reminiscent of the iconic Day-O sequence in the eighties iteration, this reference never feels forced. This is a feat more impressive than it sounds, and one cannot help but revel in the nostalgia of it all.
The film makes for essential Halloween viewing. The costume design retains its originality and intricacy, enriching the film, and successfully maintaining the spooky atmosphere we have come to expect from Burton pictures. There is no shortage of laughs, either, from Keaton’s hilarious lead performance, to the Soul Train skit, to the relationship between Dafoe’s character and coffee. There are an infinite number of humorous details that generously intersperse this unique , sharp script.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice type of film you’ll find yourself rewatching as the leaves continue to fall. It has all the hallmarks of a new classic. One can only hope it has reignited in many appreciation for the 1988 picture.
