One of the downsides of modern-day movie trailers is that they often reveal almost the entire plot, showcasing the best lines and stunts in just two minutes. Fortunately, this is not the case with Tim Burton’s highly anticipated sequel, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,’ which has managed to keep its secrets under wraps while offering a tantalizing glimpse of the excitement ahead since the trailer first appeared.
The story revisits Lydia (Winona Ryder), the Goth teen who famously saw dead people and nearly married the politically incorrect ghost and bio-exorcist, Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), back in 1988. Now, Lydia stars in her own show, ‘Ghost House,’ where she explores haunted houses. Her rebellious daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), is skeptical about her mother’s claimed ability to see ghosts, especially since Lydia can’t see the ghost of her husband, Richard (Santiago Cabrera), who is also Astrid’s father.
Lydia’s current romantic involvement is with Rory (Justin Theroux), her show’s producer. Despite their relationship, Lydia feels an enduring connection to Betelgeuse, often spotting him in the audience during her show tapings. The plot thickens with the death of Lydia’s father, Charles, prompting the Deetz women—Lydia, her stepmother, Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and Astrid—to return to the original Ghost House in Winter River. In the afterlife, Betelgeuse finds himself hunted by his evil ex-wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci), a soul-sucking witch who was responsible for poisoning him during the plague.
While grappling with her familial relationships and eerie occurrences, Astrid discovers solace in her interactions with Jeremy (Arthur Conti), a youth who spends his days engrossed in Dostoevsky from his treehouse. As Halloween approaches, events spiral towards chaos with Lydia’s impending marriage to Rory, slated to occur at the witching hour in a ceremony graced by “select influencers” and a potential Netflix executive. Meanwhile, Astrid and Jeremy plan to spend their Halloween handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, as Delia records blood-curdling screams for her latest grief art installation.
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‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ offers a delightful mix of humor and horror, staying true to Tim Burton’s unique style. Michael Keaton returns as Betelgeuse in a performance that is both wild and endearing. Winona Ryder effortlessly portrays the transition from the lost Goth girl to a lost Goth mother, while Catherine O’Hara brings immense fun to the role of Delia, the installation artist.
The addition of new cast members adds further excitement to the sequel. Monica Bellucci shines as the malevolent Delores, Willem Dafoe stands out as Wolf Jackson, a B-movie star who embodies the essence of a Dashiell Hammett hard-boiled detective, and Danny DeVito delivers a noteworthy performance as the unlucky janitor who meets Delores.
The film’s visual style is nothing short of spectacular, filled with Tim Burton’s trademark imaginative elements. The depiction of the bureaucratic intricacies of the afterlife is both striking and original. The Soul Train to the Great Beyond, with its vibrant, locomotive-like representation of African American music, provides a visual feast. The film masterfully switches between various visual styles, ranging from classic black-and-white to animated sequences, including the tragic love story of Betelgeuse and Delores, and the comically absurd demise of Charles, who survives both a plane crash and drowning, only to be decapitated by a shark.
This sequel manages to capture the quirky essence of the original while introducing fresh elements that make the 36-year wait worthwhile. ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ has proven to be a nostalgic yet refreshing return to Tim Burton’s bizarre, fantastical world, seen through the eyes of both old and new characters.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ is currently playing in theatres, offering a perfect blend of giggles and gore that is bound to resonate with both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Published – September 06, 2024 05:20 pm IST
English cinema / World cinema
