Beetlejuice (1988): A grotesque comedy of the afterlife
1988 • Tim Burton • 1.85:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Set in a quiet New England town, Beetlejuice, directed by Tim Burton, follows a recently deceased couple who find themselves trapped in their former home as ghosts. When a new family moves in and begins to renovate the house, the couple tries to scare them away, but to no avail. Desperate, they enlist the help of an unruly and unpredictable ‘bio-exorcist’, whose methods quickly spiral out of control.
One of the most Burtonesque films in the director’s filmography, Beetlejuice reflects Burton’s stylised approach through its exaggerated set design, expressionist architecture and practical effects. The film constructs its version of the afterlife as an extension of bureaucratic systems, complete with waiting rooms, manuals and caseworkers who regulate the experience of the dead. Beetlejuice himself is a chaotic presence, but visually, he is an extension of the same imagery (through the use of stop-motion animation and theatrical prosthetics), contrasting with the order that dominates life and the afterlife.
A mix of horror, black comedy and fantasy, Beetlejuice sees Burton explore some of his favourite themes, such as death and identity, offering a canvas for his dark imagination and sensibilities. The film is an intrusion of the irrational into an already dysfunctional family dynamic, with normality coming from the two deceased individuals who simply wanted to build a simple life for themselves.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: Following a road traffic accident, a young couple attempts to drive out the new occupants of their home, inadvertently unleashing a chaotic “bio-exorcist” who makes everything worse (and weirder).
- Actors: Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones, Sylvia Sidney.
- Director: Tim Burton
- Year: 1988
- Cinematographer: Thomas E. Ackerman
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Genre: Horror Comedy
