Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, and Beetlejuice

Posted on October 8, 2024

As a child of the 90s, I found myself in a unique era of entertainment, a time that now fills me with nostalgia. As an avid reader, I steered clear of a good portion of brain-rotting TV. Yet, when I wanted to spend time with my family, I hunkered down in the living room with them, our eyeballs collectively glued to the television set. Since we only had one television, my brother and I usually watched whatever our parents had on. There weren’t as many shows made specifically for kids back then, so inadvertently, I watched content that some might consider too mature for my age.

Beetlejuice was one movie that enchanted me as a child but was not age-appropriate (until they turned it into a cartoon; more about that later). Visually, it inspired and delighted my young mind, from the bold, spectacular practical effects to the unusually rigid sculptures and structures. The film balanced the spooky with the whimsical so well! Not only that, but the idea of a mischievous demon living in the attic, rattling through a miniature-model town, was incredibly relatable to me as a kid. Our attic at home was also creepy and spooky and housed a model train table. We never really went in the attic much as kids, but a part of me wanted to believe that Beetlejuice was up there and ready to save me from my incredibly dull life if I only got the courage to stand up there, look down at the model town, and say his name three times in a row.

Beetlejuice became a phenomenon for more than just my young brain. He was eventually turned into an animated show aimed at a younger audience. Whenever Lydia wanted to hang out with her pal Beetlejuice, she said his name three times. Beetlejuice would then transport her from her ordinary life into the Netherworld, which, like the film, was spooky, goofy, and magical. As a little girl, I was spirited and adventurous, with long, unkempt hair and a vivid imagination. I loved playing with dirt, slime, and bugs and feeling like “one of the guys.” There were aspects of cartoon Lydia I could relate to: her high ponytail, her preference for the strange and unusual, and her inability to be easily grossed out. The show was a thrilling and fun-filled adventure I looked forward to every time it aired.

As an adult, Beetlejuice would sometimes pop back into my mind as a special interest. So, you can imagine how excited I was to hear that my long-lost imaginary pal was set to star in a sequel film called “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” My boyfriend and I got tickets for a Saturday afternoon. He had only seen the first Beetlejuice in the past two years, so I knew keeping his attention would take a lot of work. What I didn’t anticipate was my OWN attention waning. The sequel seemed to lack the original’s charm and simplicity, and I longed for the familiar dynamics. After the movie ended, I mostly pretended that I thought it was great to save face, especially after dragging my boyfriend with me. But overall, it fell flat for me. My once proudly waving Beetlejuice flag lowered to half-mast that day, and I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of disappointment—a deep sense of disappointment that can only be cured with tickets to the Beetlejuice musical.

Not everyone is a fan of musicals, especially ones about the living and the dead, so my options for companions were quite limited. My brother and his family are into spooky things, so I asked him. He suggested I ask his daughter, who is in 5th grade and had inherited her mom and dad’s preference for the dark and macabre. Despite the show being a little inappropriate for children, my niece and I both had a blast. Lydia and Beetlejuice FINALLY team up as a scream team, scaring away the people who once regarded them as entirely invisible. The musical was an entertaining experience that brought back the playful and vibrant energy of the original movie and cartoon series I grew up with. It was a joy to see these beloved characters come to life on stage, and the experience left me with a renewed excitement for the Beetlejuice franchise.

Growing up in the 90s, I was immersed in the whimsical and spooky world of Beetlejuice, from the original movie that enchanted me as a child to the animated show that captivated my imagination. Despite feeling disappointed by the sequel, attending the Beetlejuice musical reignited my love for the franchise, leaving me with renewed excitement and nostalgia for the beloved character. Oddly enough, only through the fabled trifecta of Beetlejuice (movie), Beetlejuice (sequel), and Beetlejuice (musical) could the ghost-with-the-most return to my heart. Through my lifelong fascination with Beetlejuice, I have embraced the creative and quirky person I am today.