In 1988, the world experienced the darkness of the afterlife when we were introduced to a crazy dark character that can fool you into helping him to get what he wants, but leaving you in despair. This dark comedy, and supernatural horror will make you laugh, scream, and even be disgusted with what this adventure will throw at you next. These unusual roles played by the original actors have more to spook us as Halloween approaches.
Now thirty-six years later, things have been quiet at the home in Winter River. Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder), now the host of the internet streaming sensation called “ The Ghost House” that investigates the supernatural and specializes in removing ghosts from haunted homes, still troubles with seeing spirits from the beyond. Her daughter, Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega – Stuck in the Middle and Wednesday), who does not believe in ghosts, is dealing with getting along with her dorm mates at her boarding school. Lydia’s step-mother, Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara), an art sales consultant and hostess for a New York Gallery is struggling over the loss of her husband Charles.
The family decides to have the funeral at the old house in Winter River, even with the fear of their old nemesis Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), pronounced “Beetlejuice”, as we know from the first film is an afterlife being that wreaks havoc on the living and even the dead. Lydia still has visions of Betelgeuse’s wrath on her family and remembers her experience when she was a reckless goth teenager, and struggles with his presence in that house. Now she gets to introduce her daughter Astrid to the childhood horrors she once faced as well as her new boyfriend and managing producer, Rory (Justin Theroux).
In the waiting room before the great beyond, Betelgeuse now has a new job, managing the news soul’s paperwork. Everything seems peachy for him, but he still has eye’s for Lydia after all these years. When he gets news from former B action star and now chief detective Wolf Jackson (Willem Dafoe), that his former wife, Delores (Monica Bellucci), has returned and is out to get him, he cringes with terror. Now in fear Betelgeuse needs to find a way to return to the living and find his love before Delores distinguishes him. 
Director Tim Burton does a fantastic job bringing back the imaginative format of the 1988 Beetlejuice classic and connects to it perfectly. He goes even further developing an original storyline that advances his characters into their future selves from where they were many years prior. Going back to the initial house where it all started allows Burton to use his previous special effects and design it to work smoothly with today’s film technology. Michael Keaton does a spectacular job portraying Beetlejuice, continuing where he left off thirty-six years ago. He is even more despicable and disgusting then he was back then. While Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara began where they left off and amazed us all with the advancement of their characters. Now an art hostess O’Hara plays her kookie self perfectly and Ryder becoming a ghost hunter suits her previous part wonderfully. Now introducing the daughter of Lydia, Astrid, with Jenna Ortega fits the mold that was needed to make this tale succeed.
This outstanding, hilarious, grotesque journey through the hereafter puts you into the world of Betelgeuse and allows you to see what these hero’s have in store for them when their life expires. Also including another marvelous voyage through the realm of Tim Burton that unquestionably entertains us all.
Final Comment: I based my grade on the uniqueness of the storyline and the wonderful performance from the cast.
Stars 3.5 out of 5
Additional Film Information
Cast: Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Willem Dafoe, and Danny DeVito.
Directed by: Tim Burton
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Dark Comedy, Dark Fantasy, and Supernatural Horror.
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for violent content, macabre and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use.
Running Time: 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Release Date: September 6, 2024
Distributed By: Warner Bros.
Release In: IMAX, Dolby Digital, and Standard