Warning: This article contains spoilers for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!
Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceintroduces a new version of the titular main character that’s so chaotic, hilarious, and bizarre that only filmmaker Tim Burton could have come up with it. After multiple flops, Burton has finally made a comeback with the long-awaited sequel to the beloved Michael Keaton movie.Tim Burton movieshave a clear aesthetic, tone, and style that’s unmistakable, andBeetlejuice 2is no exception.
Like the first movie,Beetlejuice Beetlejuicetells a twisting, turning story centering onthe Deetz family, bringing back the eponymous bio-exorcist to help save Lydia Deetz’s daughter, Astrid, from a nefarious ghost. The visuals capture the kitschy and gothic style of the filmmaker in the best way, building on the Neitherworld that the audience learned of in the original movie. On top of these elements,Beetlejuice 2includes a memorable gag with a new version of Betelgeuse that’s so unconventional that only Tim Burton and his creative team could have thought it up.
Baby Betelgeuse Is One The Best Beetlejuice 2 Gags
Baby Betelgeuse Appears Twice In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceincludes multiple hilarious and memorable moments, but Baby Betegeuse is one of the best gags.Lydia’s having a baby burst out of her is one of the most frightening moments in the movie.The fact that it looks like a mini Betelgeuse gives the moment an element of humorthat blends horror, fantasy, and comedy.
In addition to being laughable, this opens up the opportunity for a version of Betelgeuse that is not played by Michael Keaton.
While Baby Betelgeuse would have been funny in that single scene, theending ofBeetlejuice 2brings back the gag by having Astrid give birth to the monster in Lydia’s nightmare. In addition to being laughable, this opens up the opportunity for a version of Betelgeuse that is not played by Michael Keaton – a necessary option if Warner Bros waits years again to put out more movies in the franchise.
The Beetlejuice Baby Shares Elements Of Past Tim Burton Designs
The Beetlejuice 2 Team Used Practical Design for Baby Betelgeuse
Part of the reason the minorBeetlejuice 2characteris such a memorable gag is the fact that it perfectly fits in with Tim Burton’s past designs. Rather than creating Baby Betelgeuse with CGI, the creature effects creative supervisor, Neal Scanlan, took inspiration from the first movie by making the character through practical design. Burton explained the process of making the doll when speaking withSlashFilm. He stated:
“We went to a toy store and bought some dolls and cut them up. See, this was the fun of making the movie. We obviously sculpted the thing, but we truly took basically a baby from the store and put some wires on it and moved it around.”
In addition to taking a practical approach to Baby Betelgeuse’s design,Scanlan seemingly used elements from Tim Burton’s animated characters – most notably, the eyes. Tiny irises and pupils, compared to the eyeballs, are common traits. The eyeballs on theBeetlejuice Beetlejuicebaby bulge out like those inCorpse Bride,Frankenweenie, andThe Nightmare Before Christmas. Ultimately, the new version of “The Ghost with the Most” is reminiscent of Tim Burton’s old work, making it perfect for fans of the director.
