After 36 years, Tim Burton has returned to the eerie, hilarious world of “Beetlejuice” with his much-anticipated sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Premiering on August 28 at the Venice Film Festival, this new chapter in the Beetlejuice saga wowed audiences, earning a nearly four-minute standing ovation. The film, which screened out of competition, reunites Burton with original stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, while introducing fresh faces like Jenna Ortega, Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe.
Critical Acclaim: A True Return to Form
The reviews are in, and it’s clear—Burton has delivered a winner. Collider was thrilled, noting, “It’s truly exciting to see Burton’s return to form, making something both grotesque and funny. He appears to be energized and having fun, something we haven’t seen in quite a while.”
The Hollywood Reporter echoed this sentiment, celebrating the film’s “zippy pacing, buoyant energy and steady stream of laugh-out-loud moments hint at the joy Burton appears to have found in revisiting this world, and for anyone who loved the first movie, it’s contagious. That applies also to the actors, all of whom warm to the dizzying lunacy.”
Meanwhile, Time magazine praised the movie’s wild ride, “The movie carries you along on its wriggling magic carpet of mayhem – and features one sequence of creepy-elegant-funny cracked poetry that’s classic, old-school Burton.” They also praised Keaton’s portrayal once again of the ghost with the most and said seeing the actor in full costume again as Beetlejuice was “like greeting a decrepit, kvetching old friend, the kind you keep around just for entertainment value. Michael Keaton clearly adores this character; once again, he pours pure love into Beetlejuice’s maniacal, depraved soul.”
Deadline Hollywood kept it simple yet enthusiastic, declaring the movie “a blast just to watch” and “funny, all the time.”
Tim Burton’s Freak Flag Flies High
Empire magazine, always keen on Burton’s distinctive style, appreciated the moments when the film truly embraced its weirdness. “The film is strongest when it remembers it’s a Tim Burton film and has license to get weird,” said Empire in their review. “While it’s slicker and less homemade-feeling than the 1988 vintage, there are still flashes of B-movie brilliance: a stop-motion animation sequence, some delightful shrunken-head prosthetic effects, and two demented birth scenes with the most ghoulish prosthetic baby this side of ‘American Sniper.’ It’s moments like this, when Burton lets his freak flag truly fly, that ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ earns its stripes.’
A New Adventure in Winter River
The sequel plunges us back into the eerie town of Winter River, where the Deetz family faces yet another supernatural crisis. Lydia (Ryder), still haunted by Beetlejuice (Keaton), must deal with her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid (Ortega), who stumbles upon the portal to the Afterlife. Chaos ensues as the mischievous Beetlejuice is unleashed once more, bringing his signature brand of mayhem to both realms.
Don’t Miss the Madness!
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” will creep into Philippine cinemas on September 4, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It’s a must-see for fans of the original and anyone who loves a good mix of horror, humor, and pure Burton madness. Mark your calendars—this is one cinematic experience you won’t want to miss! #Beetlejuice #Beetlejuice
