Beetlejuice

Plot

When Adam and Barb Maitland are killed in a car accident, their ghosts are bound to their home that they both loved and were devoted to.

Soon a new family move in, so the pair try to haunt them out – but when the family, rather than be frightened are amazed, Adam and Barb call on the demon Beetlejuice to help exorcise them from their home.

Direction

Directed by goth king Tim Burton, his zany take on fantasy/reality is really only one of a handful of directors to take on this project. The original concept for Beetlejuice was created by Michael McDowelll.

His lighting, blend of fantasy and reality – as well as stop motion in the ‘underworld’ is amazing, and rivals some movies made even four decades later.

The make up, especially in some of the afterlife is brilliant, and won an Oscar for the works of Ve Neill, Steve LaPorte and Robert Short.

Cast

Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis play Adam and Barbara, who find themselves bound to their house following a fatal car accident. Their comical abilities are fine, but they are overshadowed by the secondary and supporting cast.

Michael Keaton plays the titular character Beetlejuice. Despite being the ‘name’ of the film, Beetlejuice only has just under 20 minutes of screen-time.

The family that move in are the Deetz’ – with dad Charles (Jeffrey Jones), who is desperate to get some peace and quiet, mum Delia (the late great Catherine O’Hara) wants to be a famous artist, and daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) who is going through a ‘dark’ stage of her own… is the only one who can see Adam and Barb!

Breakdwon

Starting off as a ‘cute’ comedy – where husband and wife Adam and Barb live in a quaint little town, where they seemingly know everyone (and are comfortable enough to shop in stores without the owner being inside). They have a large house which is the envy of the local real estate agent. They are promptly killed in a car accident, and find themselves bound to the house.

What follows is them learning the rules of the afterlife (with a handbook to guide them), and find that they have a new family living in their home. They try everything to haunt them out, but alas the family (apart from daughter Lydia) cannot see them. I always admire these scenes where the actors are trying to haunt another actor and ‘haunted’ must act like they cant see them.

During some of the back and forth between the afterword, (which includes some ultra impressive makeup work that won the Oscar), and a frightening underworld which includes stop motion sand-worms.

There are some great moments that are just laugh out loud hilarious, and they come courtesy of both Michael Keaton (who was a comedy star in the 1980[s – even before my time), and Catherine O’Hara (who sadly passed away a few weeks ago.).

Delia’s obsession over her art, and her leading the dinner party in a rendition of Hey Oh is a highlight of the film. She will be missed terribly, and we were lucky to have such projects like this to remember her.

I didn’t care too much some of the third act in which Beetlejuice tries to marry Lydia, but that’s just a personal preference.

There is also a plan by Charles to ‘buy’ the town, that doesn’t eventuate – as he learns to ‘love’ the ghosts in his home.

The score by Danny Elfman (who else in a Tim Burton film) is front and center, and adds to the charm of the film as per usual.

Overall

Fun comedy, has all the hallmarks of a late 1980’s comedy.

Only Tim Burton could have brought these characters to life, with the help of brilliant supporting cast members like Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara.

Stunning direction by Burton too which is practically flawless, with Oscar winning make up.

Followed by a sequel in 2024.

4.5/5

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