It’s been a while since anyone did a movie that encapsulates Halloween in a way that wasn’t intensely horror, something that thrived in the 1980s and 1990s. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” instilled that familiar feeling so effortlessly that the audience couldn’t help but feel transported to its nostalgia, especially given it was a sequel.

It was frightening to hear there would be a sequel, not because the first movie wasn’t great, but because it was. There have been an enormous amount of sequels that have been made within the past few years that have seemed to be cash grabs made by seemingly less competent directors who ended up staining franchises’ names. However, it was ridiculous to doubt someone as vivid and detailed as Tim Burton. This movie is quirky, but so quirky it works. Burton did it once again.

Burton is a director known for the worlds he creates. The combination of a unique script, one which illustrates its characters in a modern yet ambitious way, and a vision so personal it revolutionizes a whole generation, translates to a recipe for success. Transporting audiences to worlds so different from their own is not new to him, but it is important to mention that this sequel feels right.

Immediately as the movie starts, it’s fun. The aesthetic is nurturing to the soul, something the digital age needed. It also takes place this year, but does not use TikTok phrases or write young characters poorly, something which was extremely refreshing to witness.

Without spoiling the film, I would say that the familiar faces, as well as some new ones, all felt so true to the franchise. Every person in the cast was flawless and perfectly cast. Someone I feel people will like is Wolf Jackson, played by Willem Dafoe, as he’s a great addition to this new story. Jenna Ortega was undoubtedly one of the audience’s favorites as well, as her chemistry with the cast was natural. It made sense.

It’s comedic, it’s quirky, it takes unexpected turns, but it is very easy to follow. It was fun to see audience members of all ages cosplaying as their favorite characters. There were at least two toddler Beetlejuices in attendance, and if there were three, there would have been trouble.This film is open-armed, encouraging its fan base to reenter its world, but for this new generation, it emphasizes why this director has impacted audiences worldwide.

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