I decided to catch up on the original Beetlejuice last week, and realised I'd somehow never seen it! A shocking omission, I confess, but I really enjoyed the 1988 classic. You can find it on Amazon Prime Video.
It's Tim Burton at his best, along with the likes of Edward Scissorhands, Frankenweenie, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Quirky, imaginative, and full of impressive effects. The sequel has been a welcome shot in the arm for cinemas after a disappointing summer. It's had a stellar opening, making £83 million at the US Box Office, and racking up the second biggest September opening ever after 2017's IT. The supernatural comedy is also the third biggest debut of 2024, behind Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine.
The New York Times described it as a "fun but less edgy sequel", adding that Tim Burton has "played it safe, going lightly meta while replaying their greatest hits with knowing winks".The Guardian described it as a "pivotal picture for the director".
Personally, I thought it was terrific fun, bringing together three generations of the Deetz family to the haunted house on the hill. Winona Ryder is the standout star as Lydia, whose daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) discovers the model of the town in the attic, and opens the portal to the afterlive. Cue the return of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton on wisecracking top form). Say his name three times and he appears. This follow-up may not take many risks, but like a ride on a ghost train, you'll have fun.
I loved the musical sequence featuring Donna Summer's MacArthur Park, a song which features one of my favourite lyrics ("someone left the cake out in the rain") and it will hopefully make a return to the charts as a result. The sequel recaptures much of the anarchic gory spirit of the original, and it's great to see Catherine O'Hara back as well.
Another highlight sees Monica Belluci stapling herself back together, soundtracked by the Bee Gees' disco classic Tragedy. Danny DeVito also makes an appearance, but his character doesn't last too long before being squashed.
It's gut-spilling, giggle-inducing, gothic fun, and far better than most sequels. Clearly a labour of love for director Tim Burton, and definitely worth a trip to see it on the big screen. I can't really find fault with it, and watching both Beetlejuice films in the same week was a real treat. I must say another standout is the return of Bob, the zombie with a tiny head. Missing this at the cinema would be a grave mistake.
I'm looking forward to another psychological thriller arriving at the cinema this weekend, Speak No Evil. Talking of which, if you haven't seen Blink Twice yet, Channing Tatum is excellent as a warped tech billionaire who tricks a couple of cocktail waitresses into holidaying on his paradise island, where all is not as idyllic as it might seem. Superbly directed by Zoe Kravitz, I'm giving it a second watch this week.
Alex B Cann weekly film column
