ELLIE SKJERSAA / ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

ALEXANDRA ALCALA / ASST. A&C EDITOR

Coming back to haunt us once more is director of the film “Beetlejuice,” Tim Burton. After 36 years, the well-known film and broadway production has returned to the screens with a new sequel titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

The original film was released on March 30, 1988 and starred actors such as Alec Baldwin, Winona Ryder and Geena Davis. It quickly rose to fame as one of Burton’s most acclaimed movies. Its intricate mix of dark fantasy and satirical elements  gave it a  Halloween-like sentiment and the distinct feeling that Tim Burton has continuously  been  recognized for throughout his career.

“It’s just one of those iconic movies that basically everyone has seen,” USD junior Liv Meloy said. “It’s really exciting that the franchise has even continued going after so many years and that they didn’t even truly change the name, they just added an extra ‘Beetlejuice.’”

The simplicity of the title itself not only alludes to the fact that the   franchise intends to keep the world of Beetlejuice the same as it was all  those years ago, but it also is  a play on words. In order to summon Beetlejuice from the underworld, his name has to be said three times in repetition. This reflects the second return of Beetlejuice to the  real  world  in this  newest film. 

The original movie follows the story of a couple who pass away and enter the underworld. In an attempt to scare away the new inhabitants of their home, they haunt them as ghosts. A demon from the underworld, Beetlejuice, is recruited by the deceased couple in an attempt to help scare the family away, but things get out of hand  when they lose control of Beetlejuice. The sequel follows the same family when they return to their haunted  home in the future, this time with a new generation present. 

Meloy explained that she has yet to see the new movie because she is waiting for it to hit streaming services. The film is scheduled to air on HBO Max on Nov. 25.

“I will likely see it when I can get it on Apple TV because I’m not a big fan of going to the movie theaters, but I definitely plan on seeing it,” Meloy said. 

Returning cast members Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, as well as new cast members such as Willem Dafoe, Jenna Ortega and Justin Theroux have generated a lot of buzz around the film. 

“I think there’s a lot more excitement with the cast and bringing back nostalgia so it makes many more people excited for the new movie,” USD sophomore Briana Marinescu said. “I think people resonate because it’s different than normal movies in the media and I think it allows a freedom of expression for people.”

Since the premiere on Sept. 6, the film has produced a high rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been recognized as the second highest-grossing film that has ever been released in September, only behind acclaimed film “It” directed by Stephen King.

For students such as Meloy and Marinescu, the genius behind the film can be attributed to Burton’s talent in casting and character development.

“He doesn’t just take an actor and put them on screen,” Meloy said. “He casts people who look like their role and then those roles become iconic not for the character itself but more for their unique look.”

Ortega first worked with Burton  on  the show “Wednesday” and has teamed up with him once again. Similarly, after the original release of “Beetlejuice,” Ryder  starred in more of his films such as “Edward Scissorhands” and “Frankenweenie.” If there is something to know about Tim Burton, it is that he keeps his favorite actors close. Similarly to Ortega and Ryder, he’s been known to give roles in his movies to repeated actors,  such as Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in “Edward Scissorhands” and “Alice in Wonderland.” Some students express that what drew them to the film was  their love for Tim Burton films.

“I want to watch the new Beetlejuice movie because I love Tim Burton’s work,” Marinescu said. “It also is humorous, I’ve heard, and many people need a break from normal reality. The cast [also made me want to watch the movie] because Jenna Ortega is a super popular actress right now.”

The combination of a strong cast and a creative director can be attributed to the film’s success thus far. At Burton’s walk of fame ceremony on Sept. 3, Ryder remarked  upon his ability to make people feel seen,  specifically  those  who feel different  from what is seen as normal  to  society’s  standards.

“He knows the heartache of the misunderstood, the strange and unusual,” Ryder said. “He doesn’t just understand them, he celebrates them, whether outcasts, oddballs, terrifying, or hilarious, he gives them depth, humor, and always a certain gallantry. And he gives them their dignity. His heroes are the very outcasts that he loves.”

Tim Burton at the premier in London. Photo Courtesy of @beetlejuicemovie/Instagram

Tim Burton’s creative style is not easy to compare. His ability to make one feel seen draws in people far and wide who want to see themselves represented on the screen. Through the use of stop motion and unconventional storylines, his work is  unique and this makes  him and  his  films stand out from other director’s work. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is currently  playing in  cinemas and will  be  for  the next few weeks until it hits streaming services.

The movie poster for the new film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” The movie poster for the new film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Photo Courtesy of @beetlejuicemovie/Instagram