Beetlejuice

Written by Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren

Directed by Tim Burton

rating: 🏆 most excellent

A married couple finds themselves recently deceased and must devise a plan to haunt their house and get rid of the pesky new, living tenants. When their plans to be scary are perceived as amusing, they turn to the “ghost with the most” Beetlejuice to help them with the haunting. But raunchy and perverted Beetlejuice proves to be too much and now they must figure out how to get rid of him too.

This is one of Tim Burton’s best works. His ability to create surreal, garish worlds is unparalleled, and that talent is on full display in Beetlejuice. From costuming, set design, and cinematic filming choices, Beetlejuice is an entirely original film. The film is named Beetlejuice for a reason. Even though the character doesn’t get much screen time until the second act, Michael Keaton shines as an eccentric pervert. But the other performances by Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara also demand your attention. Beetlejuice is a must-watch Halloween film, and it’s highly amusing during the rest of the year too.

Review written by Zianna Weston