Layla Robertson

From its catchy soundtrack to the creepy sandworms, Beetlejuice has been an iconic must-watch film on everyone’s Halloween movie marathon lists, even after 36 years! With its overwhelming popularity and the current trend of redoing older media (whether people think it needs to be remade or not), it was only a matter of time before Tim Burton decided to make a sequel; Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. A very creative name, I know.
The movie follows Lydia, the once mischievous oddball young girl replaced by an awkward and anxious adult (played by Winona Ryder) with her new hit ghost-hunting TV show. Lydia is now both a widow with an estranged daughter, Astrid (played by Jenna Ortega), and dating her TV show producer, Rory (played by Justin Theroux).
Right off the bat, we can tell something isn’t quite right with her current relationship when Lydia expresses concern about seeing Beetlejuice, the main antagonist of the last movie (played by Michael Keaton), with her medium-like powers and Rory “nicely” tells her to power through it for the show. Lydia can’t seem to catch a break when after filming, her stepmother, Delia ( played by Cathrine O’Hara), calls to tell her that her father, Charles Deetz, has unfortunately died in a freak accident. She returns to the house from the first movie for her father’s funeral with her daughter, stepmother, and boyfriend. The building is filled with tension and they butt heads constantly, especially Astrid who can only stomach Delia. In an unlikely turn of events, Astrid finds herself trapped in the Netherworld. Lydia, Delia, and Beetlejuice have to put their differences aside to find Astrid before she’s permanently stuck in the land of the dead.
When the film started, I was skeptical. The cinematography was similar to the original with its gloomy filter, odd camera angles, and dramatic lighting albeit more updated-looking. But, that’s where the similarities seemed to end.
Lydia’s personality was so different compared to her’s in the first Beetlejuice and the relationship between her and Astrid felt like a cliche so I was worried they had ruined one of my favorite movies with a sequel, again. I was pleasantly surprised when they managed to turn it around halfway into the movie! The plot twists caught me off guard and what parts of the story I felt were surface-level suddenly had depth. I especially liked the Netherworld, where they kept the over-the-top fake-looking makeup and dark humor that gave the first Beetlejuice its charm.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice also continued a very prominent theme from the first movie; family. The predecessor had a running joke that Adam and Barabra, who also died in a freak accident, were more attentive parents to Lydia than her alive family. In the new movie, Lydia has a similar relationship to her daughter that she had with her stepmother previously. After the death of her father, she tries to reconnect with Astrid to no avail. However, the adventure they take through the course of the movie forces the three to work out their problems to save Astrid and in turn, brings them closer together.
Overall, the Beetlejuice sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, was a surprisingly fun movie that is definitely worth a watch. Unlike some follow-up movies, it keeps the charm and theme of the original while adding to its universe. So, if you’re a fan of exaggerated make-up, dark humor, and somewhat annoying but funny ghosts with green hair and striped suits, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the movie for you!