Beetlejuice! (just don’t say it three times)

Tim Burton’s much-anticipated sequel to the 1988 cult classic “Beetlejuice” has hit the theater. Whether you called his name three times or not, the mischievous ghost “Beetlejuice” is back from the dead. Fans of the Beetlejuice franchise are reuniting ready for their trip back to the afterlife. With a fresh plot brimming with surreal horror, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” attempts to capture the macabre elements in continuation to the chaotic energy of the original.   

(Spoiler warning!) Set three decades after the original, female heroine Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) is now an eccentric writer as well as a mother, investigating the complexities of her adult life as well as the paranormal of her spectral medium when her teenage daughter, played by Jenna Ortega, becomes acquainted with the supernatural. Deetz must summon the rascal ghost Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton).  The circumstantially found trio venture into the underworld making for a messy and unconventional adventure.   

Recently, sophomore Sophia Sigler watched the film. She said one thing to acknowledge about the film is that it has “Jokes everyone can immerse in!” And this was clearly noticeable as adults erupted in laughter and bonded over nostalgia as their kids made little side remarks in the theater like “Of course she’s mad!” and “That’s one way to die!”  

 The release of the new Beetlejuice sparked a vibrant wave in pop culture also, with makeup, fashion, and merchandise. Captivating new fans and already present fans alike. Makeup enthusiasts are embracing the movie’s aesthetic with striking black-and-white face paints, exaggerated eyeshadow, and the “Beetlejuice” lip trend which exaggerates the cracks on people’s lips. It has also ironically exposed some influences lying about lip filler such as Jeffree Star because the cracks of their lips are invisible adding to the paradox of what is the actual film and fandom. Additionally, an array of merchandise such as squish mallows, posters, and figurines, has oozed it’s way into market, allowing followers of the movie to incorporate a paranormal piece in their everyday life.

This resurgence of interest not only highlights the film’s appeal but its influence on today’s cultural and stylistic expressions. People want to buy into this franchise and embrace their inner “goth-child”.  The film highlights individualism and just being unique and different which many can resonate with. “Live people ignore the strange and unusual, I myself am the strange and unusual.” -Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) in 1988 “Beetlejuice”.