While most people have been flocking to watch Jenna Ortega star in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the original is a time-tested Tim Burton classic. “Beetlejuice” stars some very big-name actors, including Winona Ryder as the spunky teenager Lydia and Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice himself.
The movie opens with Barbara and Adam Maitland, played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, passing away in a car accident before returning back to their house as ghosts two months later. In those two months, Charles Deetz (Jeffery Jones), new stepmom Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara) and Lydia move into the house and begin to transform the beloved home, much to the horror of the couple.
The Maitlands, who are unable to move on and are forced to live in the house as ghosts, attempt to get rid of the Deetzes by haunting them. However, the couple proves themselves to be poor at scaring the family and realizes that Lydia is capable of seeing them. When the couple fails at scaring the dinner party guests, which includes Delia’s New York friend Otho, Beetlejuice steps in to show off his power which nearly kills Charles.
The Maitlands return to the other side and leave Lydia alone, where she runs into Beetlejuice in the attic. He tries to convince her to say his name three times in exchange for bringing her to the other side to be with the Maitlands. The Maitlands return just in time to stop the deal but Otho summons the couple, nearly killing them as they start to rapidly decompose. In an attempt to save them, Lydia makes a deal with Beetlejuice, saving the couple but bringing him into the mortal world. After saving the couple, he quickly puts together a wedding for himself and Lydia so that he can remain on the mortal plain forever. To stop the wedding, Barbara rides in on the back of the sandworm, which swallows Beetlejuice. The movie ends with Lydia, happier than ever seen before, living in the house with the Maitlands, who celebrate Lydia getting an A on her math test, with Charles and Delia living upstairs as well.
“Beetlejuice” is a time tested Halloween classic directed by Burton, the king of all things Halloween. The movie is dripping with Burton’s directing influence, as seen in the stop-motion snake that terrorizes the Deetzes, the stylized backgrounds of the underworld and mind-blowing special effects makeup for the very creative, dearly departed. While the movie lacks jumpscares and killers, the movie still has the Halloween spirit. However, the movie also has themes that have made it a classic, such as the found family of the Maitlands and Lydia and the feeling of not belonging, as seen in the Maitlands’ losing the place they called home and Lydia’s not fitting in.
While the movie is driven by star power, the actors were not some of the biggest stars of the ’80s for no reason. In the role of Beetlejuice himself, Keaton encapsulates the unhinged energy that is the crazy poltergeist in all his weird horror and crude humor. Alongside Keaton is Ryder, who despite being just 15 years old when the first movie was filmed, perfectly embodies the overly angsty, grieving teenager that is Lydia Deetz.
Halloween is the season of fear, and while most movies revolve around jumpscares and serial killers, “Beetlejuice” is a more lighthearted approach to a Halloween movie which allows it to be a family-friendly watch or, more realistically, a good watch for those friends who can’t do “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or “Halloween.” It gives a nostalgic feel, even if it is being watched for the first time, thanks to the specific film type of the ’80s. The movie embraces the Halloween spirit but is gentle enough for even the most easily scared among us. “Beetlejuice,” with its star-studded cast is filled with the spirit of the season as Beetlejuice causes mayhem for Lydia and the Maitlands set with that special Burton touch, making it a must-watch for the Halloween season.
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