Making a return after 36 years, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice follows the events and original family of the 1988 film, Beetlejuice, as they return home to Winter River after Charles Deetz, father to our main character Lydia Deetz dies. Lydia, is the Goth teen (played by Winona Ryder in both movies) who is haunted by her previous experience with Beetlejuice. She has her life turned upside down when her daughter Astrid(played by Jenna Ortega) opens a portal to the afterlife, accidentally releasing Beetlejuice. 

The cast consists of some of the original actors such as Michael Keaton (Beetlejuice), Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara (Delia Deetz), as well as new cast members such as Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe, who portrays the character of a ghost detective and movie star known as Wolf Jackson

The movie itself has the very familiar gritty and dark atmospheric feeling that the original film possessed, bringing back a nostalgia that made the 1998 film so memorable. Tim Burton has a distinctly notable signature in the majority of the movies he directs. Through his use of distinctive colors, such as dark, muted tones, that are contrasted with vibrant hues, he’s able to encapsulate the gothic and gloomy tone many of his films portray. 

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is composed of many wacky effects and some wonderful animatronics that really assist in delivering the campy feeling of an 80s horror film. At its core, the film is very true in the ways a sequel should be: continuing and sticking to the original story, while also adding its own personal sense of individuality. Despite being a solid sequel, it lacks being a solid film that can stand on its own. 

The film in no way is bad; as a matter of fact it does well in giving the fans of the original film what they want. But the movie is simply just that: a piece of fan service. From the way the plot was developed to the amusing and outlandish CGI, the film felt more like a tribute to its predecessor, and cannot entirely stand on its own. Not only did it feel rushed, with the plot being disorganized and all over the place, but certain characters felt poorly executed. 

Overall, the movie does miss the mark with delivering a plot that wasn’t muddled by various plot holes, resulting in a not entirely fleshed out story. Yet, it does exactly what it’s intended to do: deliver a good time and laughs. Not only did the film draw in its viewers with its catchy songs, but with Tim Burton’s unique sense of directory and cinematography that many can enjoy.