Beetlejuice Beetlejuice ★★★

Release: 6 September 2024

Director: Tim Burton

Starring: Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci

It’s time to dust off your white and black pinstripe suits as the ghost with the most is back! Almost 40 years after Tim Burton’s supernatural cult comedy danced onto the big screen. The Deetz family return once again for another round of spooky shenanigans with Keaton’s trickster demon. With legacy sequels seemingly proving all the rage in Hollywood – but with mixed results for fans – can Burton and co. truly do justice to the genre defying kooky original which stole many a goth’s heart? Well, not quite – but it’s still a beetle-y blast.

A family tragedy reunites celebrity TV psychic Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) with her estranged daughter Astrid (Jenna Ortega) and eccentric ‘artist’ stepmother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) as they travel back to the village of Winter River, Connecticut. Haunted by glimpses of the demented demon Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a desperate Lydia is soon reunited with her once almost-husband, summoning him again to help save Astrid from the Afterlife. However, Beetlejuice’s Frankenstein-esque ex-wife, the staple-laden and soul-sucking Delores (Monica Bellucci), is back and on a vengeful rampage. 

First things first, there is undeniably a hell of a lot going on in this film. While there’s plenty of fun new additions to sink your teeth into, particularly a delightfully over-the-top Willem Dafoe who’s clearly having a blast, there’s just too many characters to juggle in this overstuffed sequel. Also, the reason behind Astrid’s trip to the Afterlife is disappointing and somewhat predictable, resembling a very familiar twist to Ortega’s previous gothic outing, Wednesday. But foibles aside, it’s fantastic to be back in this gloriously gothic world, with the film truly clicking into gear once the juice is finally loose.

Keaton shines once again as the greaseball ghoul, perfectly delivering the witty zingers and gross out, physical comedy as before. Despite the leap in years, it hardly feels like he’s aged in the role as he slips on his iconic suit and kooky green hair. However, Beetlejuice is surprisingly much more friend than foe in this entry, due to the additions of two new villains. While Monica Bellucci is menacing as Delores (complete with an amusing physical gag), she unfortunately isn’t given enough screen time. The casting of current goth queen Jenna Ortega as daughter of 80s goth queen Winona Ryder is note perfect and the two share a wonderful dynamic. It’s Catherine O’Hara who threatens to steal the show though as the absolutely hilarious Delia, fully channelling her Moira Rose for some absolute howlers.

The second instalment further explores the effortlessly creative and creepy world of the afterlife, with brand new additions including the funky soul train and Beetlejuice’s new call centre staffed by a whole host of shrinkers, (including the return of the wonderful Bob). Fans of Burton will be pleased to know there’s still plenty of practical (and often gory) effects and prosthetics, along with another supernatural fuelled singing and dancing sequence, to revel in. And while it doesn’t quite top the iconic Day’O, it still proves an entertaining bonkers musical interlude! 

With far too many moving parts and new faces to contend with, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is an overstuffed and occasionally messy sequel. Yet the chemistry and comedy of Keaton, O’Hara and co. still make for a ghoulishly gothic good time.