2024 horror sequel movies Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Almost disappointed. Everything in this new movie feels old. A look back at 1988’s iconic horror comedy. This one feels dated in places. But in a good way.
story
According to the original story, Lydia Deetz and her mother and daughter; Astrid, return to the house where it all began. Soon, Astrid is causing chaos. Beetlejuice is also excited and ready to see Lydia again.
Unfortunately for the immobilized demon, his skeleton is in the cupboard and his ex-wife Delores comes to visit.
Main actors and non-main actors
Michael Keaton is Beetlejuice.
Winona Ryder is Lydia Dietz.
Catherine O’Hara plays Delia Deeds.
Jenna Ortega plays Astrid Dietz.
Justin Theroux plays Rory.
Willem Dafoe plays Wolfe Jackson.
Monica Bellucci plays Dolores.
Arthur Conti is Jeremy.
Santiago Cabrera plays Richard.
Burn Gorman is Father Damian.
Cameos are also important
Danny DeVito is the janitor.
Emmy Nuttall plays Jane Butterfield.
what works
Return to the feeling of the original Beetlejuice work. A lot of the CGI feels like a nod to the limited technology available in the late 1980s. The giant worms and some of the other CG stuff feel limited and, for lack of a better term, stale.
This actually works in a film that relies on its nostalgic appeal to attract older fans. The character dynamics work well. Ortega is a perfect fit here. Aside from his death in claymation, the decision to exclude Jeffrey Jones was a good one.
Michael Keaton, Ryder, and Ortega give solid performances in this revisit. Keaton is the heart of Beetlejuice. Ryder will always be teenage emo Lydia, despite her new life as a paranormal investigator.
As usual, Danny Elfman’s score is spot on. *Side note: “MacArthur Park” works really well as a “tie-in” to the musical.
Bellucci does a great job playing the soul-sucking ex who picks herself up and follows Beetlejuice.
Willem Dafoe is excellent as an actor who believes he’s still a TV detective. But his presence is also unsettling.
*Special thanks to Soul Train.
What doesn’t work
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Too busy. There is so much going on. The 1988 original was a simplistic depiction of the underworld, although it was a bit confusing. In this sequel, two dead assholes trying to trade places with a living person is a bit much.
Bellucci and Dafoe give stunning performances, but their presence takes us away from the Beetlejuice-verse. In this sequel, it’s too complicated and overdone. Watching this movie felt a bit like reliving a favorite childhood meal, only to realize that something was missing.
That’s not to say director Tim Burton has lost his touch. Far from it. Burton is a personal favorite. Most of the problem is probably “too many cooks” quips. There are three writers on this book. It seems like everyone wants to get their “pig in front of the judge.” AKA, get their jokes in the movie. A tribute to Stephen King; Salem Lot. *If you’re lost here, check out the list of characters in the book. Everything will become clear. *With the inclusion of a whole bunch of “Bobs,” the movie seems to have lost its way.
judgment
I’m almost desperate to see this in the cinema. I had to wait to play it and I’m glad that was the case. Even though it’s so pleasant, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Disoriented. This movie is too busy and crowded. It received a solid rating of 3.75 out of 5 stars. Waiting so long for a sequel feels stale. Imagination is always better than the long-awaited second installment of any movie.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Now playing on Max.
trailer
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