The new sequel film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” filmed and produced by Tim Burton was a great mix between humor and horror. Shockingly, I walked into the Beetlejuice movie completely blind. Meaning, I watched the sequel before the first movie. 

I thought it was so good I went home and watched the first one and was blown away. The movie starred Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Micheal Keaton, Monica BelluccI, Catherine O’hara, and Justin Theroux. Burton couldn’t have picked a better cast for the movie. I appreciated how they kept some of the original cast for the new movie. 

The sequel has such a different plot than the first. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” follows a middle aged Lydia Deetz 36 years after the first took place. Lydia hosts her own paranormal reality TV series and returns to Winter River following the gruesome death of her father, Charles Deetz. Lydia is still haunted by Beetlejuice, when her daughter discovers a portal to the afterlife. The second movie and first eventually come together at the end of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, thay I did not discover until I watched the original. I would say if you’re a Beetlejuice fan, the second movie definitely compliments the original very well.

As predictable as the film is, it still delivers the laughs. However, with many sequels this one delivers a little shallow. The film does a great job paying off my expectations from scene to scene, and I felt a constant feel of fulfillment throughout the movie. The producers knew exactly what kind of film it is, which allowed them to lean into its niche so that it didn’t compete with the original. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” feels like an addition to the story universe, giving us space to enjoy the return of the characters as well as getting to know Lydia’s daughter Astrid.