I actually never thought this was going to happen, back in the days sequels were not that common and Beetlejuice the animated series died after a while with the movie becoming a reality, even brought to life animated characters were not a thing in 1988, took 36 years for the sequel for the movie to happen and we were lucky the original actors are still alive and kicking to make the sequel happen, if there is going to be a third movie now some of them might be running out of time so maybe Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2026)?!
The visual style of the movie one can agree is Burton’s return to his signature style, similar to the original movie some of the effects were very basic in terms of tech and some even handcrafted sets instead of using CGI all over the place, things that probably made the first movie memorable. Keeping this aesthetic approach was the right decision as the sequel has a real feel that ties in with its predecessor so well while remaining its own thing.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2049403/
- Platform: AppleTV+
Rottentomatoes Rating
It’s been 36 years since the first film, and as you’d expect, time hasn’t been kind. Lydia Deetz has morphed from the goth teenager we knew into a paranormal TV show host with her own family drama, and personal demons. Making the original story does not seem to be that hard for the writers, although has very little connection to the original animated series since there was never a sequel or second season for it and Lydia did remain a goth teenager, I really enjoy the movie, from Keaton dark humor to memories from childhood watching Beetlejuice the animated series on TV, over all a great movie to watch, nothing crazy that you will find yourself watching every week but a good casual watch.
Returning to Winter River, Connecticut after Lydia Deetz's father had died, she is accompanied by her daughter Astrid and her stepmother Delia. Instead what we focus on is the family relationship, we get to where Lydia and Astrid haven't had the best relationship because Astrid's dad has passed away and Lydia's career has not panned out the way that Astrid expected. After Astrid gets pulled into the afterlife, Lydia strikes a familiar deal in order to get Beetlejuice to help her rescue her daughter, she will marry him, and he will help her rescue her daughter, after all that's what he always wanted, there is the connection with the OG movie.
As more characters are added to the story, it gets more complex: Beetlejuice's vengeful ex wife Delores LaVerge, a former member of a soul sucking death cult with a score to settle. Wolf Jackson, an afterlife detective played by Willem Dafoe, adds to the supernatural chaos you are to end up caught in, with his own excessive dose of quirky energy. These elements are mix up together with the latter described in Lydia's troubled relationship with TV producer boyfriend-ish Rory who since the beginning was only using her to make money out of controversy and the show, and Astrid's budding relationship with a local boy named Jeremy.
Michael Keaton returns to Beetlejuice as if he never left, resuming the role with a lot of energy and twisty humor that defined the character. His performance is all at once delightfully unhinged and genuinely threatening another proof that, at 73, the man can still completely command the screen with his signatory chaotic presence. Winona Ryder brings age and maturity to the adult Lydia, she’s a tormented ghost of loss, failed mother of a confused young woman and coming to terms with her own supernatural abilities. It feels like the natural evolution of her character and it puts some emotional weight on that story.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice had positive audience response, I would not call it the movie of the year but at least people giving it over a 7/10 for a sequel based on a movie from 36 years go, just imagine how many people who saw this movie had no clue what TF Beetlejuice was about?!, especially to its practical effects and dedication to the original's look something also left in the past, old tech. Those like me, who are reminiscent to the original movie years, like how the sequel captures the soul of the 1988 film but creates its own take. Horror and comedy continue to mix well and the nostalgic quality balancing with fresh ideas.
Where the movie is strong is in its visuals and the desire to maintain practical effects, for example the decision to keep the handcrafted feel of the original pays huge dividends, giving us the experience unlike anything else in today's CGI heavy landscape. The afterlife sequences are pretty impressive, full of imaginative set pieces and creature designs that never feel stagnant or cliché, well I might say I'm biased but I think I'm not wrong on this one.
It was expected for Lydia to make that desperate deal with Beetlejuice to help save her daughter after Astrid gets trapped in the afterlife trying to find her dead father. Lydia finally realizes that in order to reconcile with her daughter she has to give up her television show; Beetlejuice has to fight the vengeful ex-wife Delores. Astrid also learns that perhaps the family you get is much better than the one you want, a very poignant thematic element Nethertheless, this is an excellent Mother and daughter message for exploring audiences of both Beetlejuice movies.
As I mention above I think the plan is to go for a third movie to close the deal and I feel like they have to, to be honest just because of the tittle of the movie, we all know its Beetlejuice times 3! ,so we might return to see some more adventures in the afterlife. While there are a lot of stories to tell in this world, the expanded world building of the afterlife with Willem Dafoe's character Wolf Jackson says there is a lot more we can learn about this universe, its up to imagination, this is not the case where there is an actual lore and rules to be broken just to bring some more content to the big screen. Audience approval, and a successful search for a balance between familiar and new backgrounds, can undoubtedly help to start a third part. The fact that in this movie, Astrid is already introduced as a new generation of the Deetz family also gives some opportunities for the future that are already set because the ending is rather open.
