There it was again, we are back with twice the Beetlejuice, and twice the pale goth girl action!

Cast and Crew

Directed by Tim Burton
Writing by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar

Michael Keaton … Beetlejuice
Winona Ryder … Lydia Deetz
Catherine O’Hara … Delia Deetz
Jenna Ortega … Astrid Deetz
Justin Theroux … Rory
Willem Dafoe … Wolf Jackson
Monica Bellucci … Delores
Arthur Conti … Jeremy
Nick Kellington … Bob-Shrinker
Santiago Cabrera … Richard
Burn Gorman … Father Damien
Danny DeVito … Janitor

Premise

After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. (from IMDB.)

High Points

After having reviewed other decades-later sequels, this one does not rely on nostalgia to carry it.  There is plenty there, but there is a fresh tale being given to us.

Low Point

Monica Bellucci’s Delores seems tacked onto the story, as does Justin Theroux Rory.  They feel as though they are added to the story purely to give a ticking clock to increase the tension and to force the characters into the plot points.

The Scores:

Originality: 3/6 Despite getting credit for giving us a new tale, the tale is not particularly original.  Kid doesn’t get along with her mom and works through it in the movie?  Seen it.  The dead tricking their way into the real world?  It’s common enough that there are children’s animated movies that feature it.  The characters that don’t survive before the movie even starts are very predictable.

Effects: 6/6 While the 1988 movie was laughably bad, this movie got a budget, enough to make the viewers squeamish.

Production: 5/6 This does an excellent job of returning to the same setting as a movie 35 years later and making it feel as though the time has passed, but that it’s still the same place.

Acting: 5/6 While everyone does a good job with their roles, they aren’t as perfect as the first one.

Story: 3/6 This is an excuse to give us more Beetlejuice.  They weave a decent story throughout, but it’s clearly not the primary concern.

Emotional Response: 4/6 Our returning characters are engaging, but the new ones (and replaced ones) don’t inspire any concern for their storylines.

Overall: 5/6 A fun follow up, one that would be worth rewatching as much as rewatching the original.

In total, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) receives 31/42

The Schedule

October 5/6: Abigail (2024) and Abigail (2023): JD
October 12/13: Season of the Witch (1972) and Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) and Season of the Witch (2009) and Season of the Witch (2011) : JD
October 19/20: Hocus Pocus (1993) and Hocus Pocus 2 (2022): `Lex
October 26/27: The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023) and Humanist Vampire Seeks Suicidal Person (2023): JD
October 31: The Love Witch (2016):`Lex and Sleepaway Camp (1983): JD and Dark Gathering (2023): Alexander Case