As Halloween approaches, many of us tend to seek out films that capture the spirit of the season, and few do it quite like Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. Since its release in 1988, this quirky movie continues to thrive as a beloved classic, engaging viewers with its animated mix of heart, humour, and horror. However what truly stands out is how a film created over three decades ago continues to resonate with both new viewers and longtime fans alike.
The movie narrates the journey of a recently deceased married couple, Barbara and Adam Maitland (played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin), who want to scare their house’s new inhabitants, the Deetz family. As the Maitlands attempt to do so, they discover that this somewhat superficial task is much harder than they had anticipated. It is at this point that they decide to contact Beetlejuice, an experienced yet crazy exorcist.
The brilliance of this film lies in Tim Burton’s ability to take the seemingly random scenes and outcomes, and skillfully adapt them into a genuine masterpiece. Burton aimed to capture the essence of the B movies from his childhood, and he successfully did so through various techniques like stop motion, replacement animation, prosthetic makeup, and puppetry. His goal was to create effects that felt deliberately low-budget and artificial.
Overall, “Beetlejuice” isn’t just a Halloween classic; it’s a fun ride that captures the spirit of being different. It’s such a good reminder that being a bit quirky is completely acceptable, and whether you’re a longtime fan or just trying new things out, it’s a movie that is sure to entertain!
Per gli italiani monolingue:
Con l’avvicinarsi di Halloween, molti cercano film che catturino lo spirito di questo periodo dell’anno, come Beetlejuice di Tim Burton. Uscito nel 1988, questo film eccentrico continua ad essere amato per la sua abilità nel mescolare sentimento, umorismo e horror.
La storia segue una coppia di sposi appena morti, Barbara e Adam Maitland (interpretati da Geena Davis e Alec Baldwin), che cercano di spaventare la nuova famiglia che vive nella loro casa. Tuttavia, scoprono che è più difficile di quanto pensassero. Decidono quindi di contattare Beetlejuice, un esperto ma pazzo esorcista.
La genialità di questo film sta nella capacità di Tim Burton di prendere scene apparentemente casuali e di adattarle abilmente in un autentico capolavoro.
Tuttavia, “Beetlejuice” non è solo un classico di Halloween, ma è un’avventura divertente che cattura il valore della diversità. È un ottimo esempio del fatto che essere un po’ diversi è normale. Quindi, se vi va di sperimentare e provare cose nuove, è un film che sicuramente vi divertirà!
Isabella Tanca
BEETLEJUICE
DIRECTED BY TIM BURTON
STARRING ALEC BALDWIN, GEENA DAVIS, JEFFREY JONES, CATHERINE O’HARA, WINONA RYDER AND MICHEAL KEATON
“My whole life is a dark room. One big dark room.”
― Lydia Deetz (Played by Winona Ryder)