Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice” will release a trailer within the next week or so, according to Daniel Richtman. This one is easily one of the most anticipated big studio sequels of the year.
Last month, the film test-screened twice in California and the reactions coming out of it were fairly positive. I’ll delve into a few key plot details below …
Here’s the synopsis …
After an unexpected family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return to the small Vermont town of Winter River. Paranormal empath, Lydia Deetz, begins to see the lecherous demon Beetlejuice, who haunted her as a teenager. His plans to finally marry Lydia are given extra urgency when his dead wife comes to life and begins to stalk the Afterlife hunting for him. Meanwhile, Lydia’s teenage daughter embarks on a romance with a local teen.
So, as mentioned, the test screening went well. We should take note that former stars of the original, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, are not in this sequel, nor do they have cameos. Willem Dafoe is said to have a very small role, and there is supposedly a musical number in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Speaking of cameos, a decently famous actor shows up late in the movie, but he shall not be revealed on these pages.
I keep hearing great things about the visuals. Burton uses a lot of practical effects in this film, and it’s said to be visually beautiful to look at. Also, unlike the original, Michael Keaton’s titular character is the good guy this time around as he helps Lydia (Winona Ryder) find her Daughter and her boyfriend who somehow ended up getting trapped in the afterlife.
Speaking on The Jess Cagle Show, Keaton admitted having seen a cut of the upcoming sequel, and he loved what he saw:
It is really good. And beautiful. Beautiful, you know, physically. You know what I mean? The other one was so fun and exciting visually. It’s all that, but really kind of beautiful and interestingly emotional here and there. I wasn’t ready for that, you know. Yeah, it’s great.”
He goes on to praise the cast, adding “It’s great and the cast, I mean, Catherine [O’Hara], if you thought she was funny last time, double it. She’s so funny and Justin Theroux is like, I mean, come on. It’s just so fun and I’ve seen it now, I’m gonna see it again after a couple little tweaks in the editing room and I confidently say this thing is great.”
Burton, who had, what he calls, a “soul destroying” experience making films for Disney this last decade, says he felt rejuvenated making the “Beetlejuice” sequel:
I tried to strip everything and go back to the basics of working with good people and actors and puppets. It was kind of like going back to why I liked making movies.”
We all want the old Burton back. He hasn’t made a great film in over a decade. Regardless, he has an impressive filmography that includes “Beetlejuice”, “Batman,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Ed Wood”, “Sleepy Hollow”, “Mars Attacks”, “Big Fish” and “Sweeney Todd”. A Burton comeback is always more than welcome.
The ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel is being released in theaters on September 6th.