Beetlejuice has been summoned back to theaters

By Caitlyn Linder //

Tim Burton is known for his ability to make movies that become staples in the months leading up to Halloween. “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Sweeney Todd,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “The Corpse Bride” are all classic Halloween movies, but one stands out over all of them.

“Beetlejuice.”

The original came out in 1988, sharing the story of Barbara and Adam Maitland’s untimely death, and their adventures trying to adjust to the afterlife. They eventually become friends with teenage girl Lydia, who has moved into their house with her family, but not before they attempt to ‘bio-exorcise’ the family from their house with the help of everyone’s favorite demon, Beetlejuice.

But, be careful not to say his name three times! That’s how he’s summoned; once summoned, he’s very hard to get rid of.

On Sept. 6, however, someone must have said it three times, because the demon was back on the big screen after 36 years.

The sequel stars some big names from the original, such as Winona Rider as Lydia Deetz, Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz and Michael Keaton as the bio-exorcist himself, as well as some new faces, such as Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, Monica Bellucci as Delores and Willem Dafoe as an actor turned detective in the afterlife.

Diehard fans of the original will be happy to see classic characters back in the theaters with a new story, however, the story and script seem like a rush job, with a few poorly thought-out details. The film also has at least three storylines, but only one is fully thought out enough to offer the viewer a satisfying ending.

The newer characters were easy to like, and it feels like the returning characters never left the screen. Keaton and Ryder’s chemistry on-screen has not changed, and the addition of Lydia’s daughter brings a new level to the comical rivalry of Lydia’s and Delia’s relationship.

While the story is less than what fans were expecting, the characters and the comedy are just the same as the original. And you know what they say, the sequel is rarely as good as the original.

You can watch the original on Max, or you can rent it on YouTube for $3.79. Michael Keaton’s return as Beetlejuice is exclusively in theaters.