Movie Review: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The Dead Rise Again.

The sequel to the cult classic 1988 supernatural comedy Beetlejuice had finally hit theaters. After having his own Saturday morning cartoon, Broadway show, Universal Studios stage show, and even an unmade sequel, we finally get to see Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and director Tim Burton make their return to the wild and wacky world of the afterlife. 

Here is the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice trailer.

Set three decades after the first film the Deetz family is brought together following the passing of Charles Deetz who was originally played by Jeffrey Jones (and does not appear here for reasons). Lydia, now grown up, is dealing with her disconnected daughter Astrid (Played by: Jenna Ortega) who doesn’t believe in the supernatural.

Meanwhile Delores (Played by: Monica Bellucci), a soul sucking ghost and the ex-wife of Bettlegeuse, is accidentally set loose and is on a revenge quest against her ex-husband. Beetlegeuse, still having feelings for Lynda, tries to dodge his ex and the police, lead by detective Wolf Jackson (Played by: Willem Dafoe), while helping save Lydia’s daughter from loosing her soul to the afterlife.



The film definitely gives off the feelings of the first, but with more updated effects and visuals. While the story of a parent trying to reconnect with their child after the death of the other parent has been done to, well, death, many of the other plot points hold up better with a few twists thrown in to catch the viewer by surprise. 

There are a few plot points from the original movie that are repeated, such as a wedding scene, but it doesn’t feel out of place, especially with the high energy and fast action that begins to take center stage at around the halfway point. Keaton plays the character as it it was still 1988, Ryder does a decent job as an older Lydia and O’Hara is as kooky as ever. Ortega also does a decent job but admittedly isn’t as memorable. 

Tim Burton definitely feels at home with this project, returning to a form of filming we haven’t seen from him in a while. Throughout the 2010s many of his projects felt rather underwhelming, such as the Live-Action Remakes of Alice in Wonderland and Dumbo at Disney. Here, in a low budget feeling film, with little to no studio interference, it feels like seeing that old classmate you used to hang out with while at a class reunion, good memories rushing back.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10



A good return to form from Tim Burton and a real nostalgia trip for those who love the original. If you are looking for a movie tho take the family to this Halloween season, then Bettelejuice Beetlejuice is is the popcorn flick for you.

While nothing has been stated on wether or not a third film might be made, you do have to say the character’s name three times after all. Ryder has stated that she does hope that both Beetleguise and Lydia eventually end up together. Only time will tell if we will have one more ghostly outing before the Grim Reaper comes calling.

What did you think of the movie? Was it worth seeing the cast all reunite all these years later? Or should the I.P. have stayed dead and buried? Let us know your thoughts.