Beetlejuice (1988)

Beetlejuice

• The first time I saw this movie, I can honestly say I wasn’t a huge fan. It wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t hit like I wanted it to. However, on a rewatch, it was much better. It’s funny because there’s a lot of movies where I liked it better the second time. I think watching it now was different because I have a better movie sense, so I had a deeper appreciation for the dark humor and stop motion. I’ve never been a super huge Tim Burton fan, but this is for sure one of his best. I don’t think it’s as good as everyone says it is, but it’s still pretty good. I like the simplicity of it, yet you still get plenty of detail. It’s just a young deceased couple trying to scare out some annoying people, and they need the help of a little demon dude. It’s so easy yet so great. And honestly, my favorite thing is the pacing and movie length. It’s just over 90 minutes, which is the perfect runtime. Long enough to feel complete, but it also doesn’t drag on or have any unnecessary scenes. It gets straight to the point, and stays strong until the end. I will say there are a couple moments that get a little old, but nothing that drags it down too much. The stop motion, as mentioned, is awesome, and the whole movie has amazing practical effects and physical makeup. It makes everything seem so real and authentic, and shows how movies nowadays sometimes feel like cheap CGI piles of goop. The cast was great, especially Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara. Their comedic chops and line deliveries are flawless. Lastly, the score by Danny Elfman was insanely good, just like always. The duo of Burton and Elfman is unbeatable. Overall, this movie is well made, and though cheesy, it’s fun and is a great taste of 80’s comedy with great physical effects. I’d recommend it to most comedy/horror fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!