It's crazy to think that the last time Tim Burton released a feature film in his own distinctive Burton-esque gothic motif was over a decade ago. And now he’s back and returning to the world of his 80’s cult classic all in one breath. While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sometimes gets caught up in the narrative cobwebs of its own creation, it is a fun filled, gothic delight with Michael Keaton bursting with even more frenetic, madcap energy than he was in the original. 

 

Beetlejuice is back! After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the attic and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened. With trouble brewing in both realms, it's only a matter of time until someone says Beetlejuice's name three times and the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.

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Even from the opening sequence which sweeps us over the town of Winter River and the rousing Danny Elfman score which accompanies it, you know that you’re back not only in the madcap, gothic world of Beetlejuice but also of its director, Tim Burton. And while there are touchstones to the former film, I’ve gotta hand it to Burton, he’s really seeking to craft an original tale here. 

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If anything, there are too many new characters introduced for a film that has a very quick runtime of a smidge over 90 minutes with the brilliant Monica Bellucci’s Delores woefully underused. However, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice soars when it returns to its frenetic, gothic creep and macabre humor filled with exploding, shrinking bodies and a victim of piranhas still being eaten by them in the afterlife. 

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The supporting cast of O’Hara, Theroux, and Dafoe are incredibly hilarious and are worth the ticket price alone. While Jenna Ortega admirably leads Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, this film belongs to Michael Keaton’s title character. He is in incredible form here, bringing a frenetic energy all with a dash of delightful grossness that only this character could pull off. 

 

While Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sometimes gets caught up in the narrative cobwebs of its own creation, it is a fun filled, gothic delight with Michael Keaton bursting with even more frenetic, madcap energy than he was in the original.