One of the most influential directors of the ’80s and ’90s is none other than the oddball himself, Tim Burton. Burton has taken us on so many unique and wonderful journeys that are dark, horrific but also surprisingly thoughtful. Beetlejuice would be the second time Tim Burton would find himself in the director’s chair after successfully handling Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. It’s the type of movie that only comes around every now in then with loads of original creative ideas and impressive world-building that make you want to stay in this strange but intriguing world.
Young couple Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbra (Genna Davis) Maitland are spending their vacation in their hometown of Winter River Connecticut when they unexpectedly crash their car into a nearby river. They return to their house only to discover that they are dead and are trapped in an unexpected limbo. Suddenly, a new family named the Deetz’s move in to gut the house that Adam and Barbra worked so hard on. Despite the Deetz’s daughter Lidia (Winona Ryder) knowing of Adam and Barbra’s existence, the rest of the family ignores the fact that there may be ghosts in the house. With seemingly few options available, they get help in the form of Betelgeuse (Micheal Keaton) who claims he can help them scare the Deezt’s out of the house but he may have some secret agendas of his own.
Tim Burton has always been great at giving us movies that are both scary yet charming at the same time and this is no exception. I love this movie’s outlook on what happens after death, It leaves the way for many creative atmospheres and ideas. The story just keeps getting weirder and weirder with plot twist after plot twist that changes ever so often to make things even more strange. It’s a perfect blend of both horror and comedy with a slight bit of heart to make for a rollercoaster of emotions. The comedy is edgy for a PG movie at the time and the film is not afraid to use some choice words or creepy imagery to get its ideas across. This is the type of film I would love to see more often as this film goes all out of its way to give the audience something unique as well as something they have never seen before.
The Characters deliver on being either hilarious or heartfelt and each one of them delivers on leaving a memorable impression on the audience. Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis work great as Adam and Barbra as you instantly understand their tragic dilemma and easily care for them as you route for them trying to get their house back. The movie also features a young Winona Ryder playing Lidia who is gothic and depressed but still manages to bring a good amount of sympathy which is more than welcomed. The real star of the show though is Beetlegeuse himself, played expertly by Micheal Keaton in arguably his best and most iconic role. Keaton brings so much energy to his character. He’s funny but also very sinister and he steals the show every single time he’s on-screen. Other actors such as Catherine O’Hare and Jeffery Jones also make great impressions with their respective characters, but all of the actors in general, do amazing jobs in their given roles to fulfill Tim Burton’s ultimate vision.
The best way I can describe the visuals in this movie is almost like imagining a dark and twisted cartoon gone wrong. The movie almost feels like a cartoon, which is great because it allows the sets and locations to have an immensely stylized look that you wouldn’t find in most movies at the time. The set designs were handled by Bo Welch who has done a ton of work with other Tim Burton projects and Barry Sonnenfeld productions such as Men In Black. Places such as the afterlife with its many denizens allow for all departments of creativity to be used whether it’s set designs or the makeup department. Speaking of which, the makeup especially for the dead citizens and Betelgeuse is so dang amazing. The film won a Saturn award for best makeup and I wouldn’t blame them cause these are some of the most lifelike makeup effects I’ve seen in a live-action movie. This movie also features some top-notch stop motion effects like the creative and scary sandworms. It’s even more impressive considering they had no CGI at the time as they blend in so well with the live-action footage to make for a unique experience.
Well, it is a Tim Burton movie, so of course we outta look no further than looking at composer Danny Elman’s movie score. The score, for the most part, goes all-out wacky, and much like the visuals, it emulates the feel of being in a dark twisted cartoon. The film also features copyrighted songs from Harry Belafonte. In any other movie would seem forced, but this movie incorporates these songs in creative and story-driven ways that work well especially in humorous and visually interesting situations.
Beetlejuice is an example of why there need to be more movies that need to take more creative risks and show the audience something new, original, and fresh. Luckily this movie would go on to get acclaim from critics and audiences alike, and I wouldn’t blame them. This movie is in my opinion a must-watch that is perfect for the Halloween season. Beetlejuice is definitely in my top five favorite Tim Burton movies for good reason and no matter how many times you say his name, Beetlejuice will most likely never leave your mind any time soon.
(Final Grade: A)