Hi all!

Today I am reviewing new-release, horror: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. It hit cinemas in Australia this month, allowing me the opportunity of seeing it on the big screen. Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River, after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

WHAT WORKED:

Fans of the original rejoice! It honestly felt like no time had passed between films. What helped was retaining the majority of the cast from the 80’s. Michael Keaton was everything! We got a lot more screen time from him. Tim Burton returned as a director, providing a plethora of practical effects and signature details. The sets, makeup, costumes and creature designs were stunning. It referenced so many moments from the original, including some nods to Wednesday, also starring Jenna Ortega. The best part, in my opinion, was the humour. The entire cinema was in fits of laughter. It was SO funny. 

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

My biggest issue was the first half dragged. It took a long time to get into the meat and potatoes of the story. There were some earlier scenes that could’ve been edited out to save time. I don’t think we as an audience needed that much world-building, especially as – one would assume – most of us were fans of the original. I also felt there were a lot of competing plot lines. Luckily, they all converged at the end. I could pull it apart critically but I don’t think it’s that deep. It was super enjoyable and that’s what matters. 

OVERALL STAR RATING: 

I gave it 4/5 stars. It was pure, unadulterated fun! 

Peace & Love xoxo