“Is this movie okay for my kids?“ As a movie-loving parent, this is a question that I think about a lot. There is no easy answer because it varies greatly from child to child. So, when evaluating the film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, rather than tell you what you should do, I will explain my experience taking my child to see it in the theater, and how he reacted to the movie. Will yours have a similar reaction?
‘Beetlejuice’
The movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the long-hoped-for sequel to the Tim Burton-directed classic Beetlejuice. It followed a young girl named Lydia Deets (Winona Ryder) as she embarked on a supernatural adventure with two well-meaning specters and a devious demon named Beatlejuice (Michael Keaton). It was filled with grotesque monsters, morbid body horror, and twisted visions of the afterlife all with a cartoonish comedic flair.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice picks up Lydia’s story 36 years after the original. Lydia has become a famous medium and has somewhat repaired her relationship with her stepmother. She has a sleazy love interest and a rebellious teenage daughter named Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who is about to begin her own dangerous adventure into the underworld.
The Child
When I first considered taking my son, under 10 years old, to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice I knew I was going to have to prepare him for it. He is not unfamiliar with horror content, but his tolerance for it can vary from day to day, so the first step was to make sure he wanted to see the movie. I explained that there would be scary moments and some potentially disturbing visuals, but that I was confident that he could handle it. I also had faith in his ability to separate what he sees on screen from reality, a faith that was validated by a comment he made while watching the film.
The Experience
My son was excited to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, despite not having seen the original and only knowing what he had heard from friends and seen online. I’ve made it a habit to take him to movies mid-day during the week, so if he needs to talk, or squirm around a bit, it won’t bother others. I made sure we had some snacks, which can help ground him during some of the more intense moments.
At one point during the film he turned to me and whispered “This movie is fiction. You know how I know? Watch” he then committed the film’s ultimate taboo and recited the titular character’s name three times. Then he said proudly “See, nothing happened”. After the film ended, I showed him photos of all the actors from the film without their makeup and made sure to explain who each one was in real life, and that they were most definitely not dead.
The Horror
As much as the original celebrated its own ridiculousness, it never shied away from its more horrifying elements. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice continues this, using eerie lighting, fantastic practical effects, and just a touch of CGI to bring the gruesome characters to life. The body horror is on point, putting the twisted details of every sunken face and severed limb on full display. The movie doesn’t rely on jump scares, but there are a few surprises to enjoy.
The Grown-Up Review
As much as I caution parents to be aware of their child’s interest and tolerance for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, I would freely recommend it to any adult with an interest in the film. It contains buckets of blood, slime, and fun. It looks beautiful and polished but surprisingly maintains the “indie-film” feel of the original.
The story does seem a bit overstuffed, especially in the final third when the weirdness really gets going. Between Beetlejuice, his sinister bride (Monica Bellucci), and the mysteriously charming boy Jeremy (Arthur Conti), there are a few too many antagonists and none of their plots get a truly satisfying end. rather than taking away from the film, I found that the chaos actually added to the rough independent feel of the production, which added to the connection to the original.
Ultimately, the film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice left a positive impression on both my son and me. We came out of the theater energized and we talked about the experience the whole drive home. While we enjoyed ourselves, I am keenly aware that my other son would not have an easy time watching it. So, if you are thinking about taking your child to see Beetlejuice Beetlejuice on the big screen, It is important to listen to and evaluate them as an individual.