BEETLEJUICE

My Take: 8/10

Parental Rating: Older Teens

There is no director who captures the "beautifully bizarre" quite like Tim Burton, and Beetlejuice remains the ultimate blueprint for his signature style. It’s an 8/10 because it is a wildly imaginative, visually chaotic, and hilariously morbid piece of cinema that redefined what a "family" comedy could look like. As a film creative, I am in awe of the practical effects and the "handmade" feel of the Netherworld, it’s a reminder that before we had endless CGI, we had stop-motion, prosthetic makeup, and pure, unfiltered creativity. It’s a film that celebrates the "strange and unusual," making it a cult classic for anyone who ever felt like they didn't quite fit in.

The story follows a lovely, recently deceased couple, Barbara and Adam Maitland, who find themselves trapped as ghosts in their own idyllic country home. When a trendy, unbearable family from New York moves in and begins to "modernize" their sanctuary, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away. After their amateur haunting fails, they make the desperate mistake of summoning Beetlejuice, a "bio-exorcist" with a penchant for chaos, stripes, and very questionable hygiene. The result is a supernatural collision between the living and the dead that is as funny as it is grotesque.

The Parental Lens

I am categorizing this for older teens. While it is a comedy, the imagery is purposefully "gross-out" and macabre, and the character of Beetlejuice himself is unapologetically crude. However, for a teen, this movie is a fantastic exploration of individuality. The character of Lydia Deetz is an icon for a reason; she is a creative, empathetic soul who feels more at home with the ghosts than with her own parents. You can talk to your teen about the idea of "belonging", that it’s okay to be the person who sees the world differently, and that your "weirdness" is often where your greatest strength lies.

As a parent, the film offers a satirical but sharp look at the disconnect between parents and children. The Deetz parents are so caught up in their own social status and "artistic" ambitions that they completely miss what Lydia is going through. It’s a great catalyst for a conversation about truly listening to our kids. You can ask your teen: "Do you ever feel like I’m missing the point of what you’re trying to say?" It’s a way to use the film’s absurdity to ground a very real conversation about being "seen" within the family dynamic.

From a creative standpoint, Michael Keaton’s performance is a force of nature. He is only on screen for a fraction of the movie, yet he looms over the entire production with an unpredictable, manic energy. As a creative, I find the "visual language" of the afterlife, depicted as a bureaucratic, neon-lit waiting room, to be a stroke of genius. It takes something terrifying (death) and makes it mundane, frustrating, and visually fascinating. The use of Harry Belafonte’s music during the dinner party possession is also a masterclass in using sound to subvert expectations. It’s a reminder that in film, the most memorable moments happen when you take two things that shouldn't work together and make them dance.

My Final Take

Beetlejuice is an 8/10 because it is a masterpiece of original vision. It’s a film that refuses to play by the rules, choosing instead to create its own zany, dark, and wonderful universe.

My Take is that this is the perfect movie to watch when you want something that feels like a "creative explosion." It’s a reminder for our older kids that the world is a big, weird place, and that being "strange and unusual" is actually a badge of honor. It’s a fast-paced, visually stunning ride that proves that even in the afterlife, you should always read the fine print and never, ever say his name three times.

This is my personal view. Please always check local ratings. Poster used for review purposes only.