Thirty-six years after Betelgeuse haunted the Deetz family in the original “Beetlejuice,” the self-proclaimed bio-exorcist is back in the sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Michael Keaton reprises his role as the iconic, mischievous ghost, alongside Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Catherine O’Hara as Delia Deetz. This time around, the story focuses on Lydia’s daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega), who finds herself venturing into the afterlife, prompting Lydia to reluctantly summon Betelgeuse to save her daughter.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has been met with positive reviews, with many fans finding it a fun continuation of the original film’s quirky charm. If you’re looking for more strange ghouls and paranormal creatures, then you might enjoy these three movies:
Ghostbusters (1984)
“Who ya gonna call?” If the Deetz family lived in the same universe as the Ghostbusters, they might have called upon these paranormal hunters to rid their house of Betelgeuse. The Ghostbusters, led by Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), are former parapsychology professors who formed a for-hire organization to eliminate ghosts. After gaining popularity, they recruit Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson) as their fourth member. When a doorway to an alternate dimension opens, unleashing a new evil in New York City, the Ghostbusters face a life-or-death situation. Stream “Ghostbusters” on Starz.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Following the success of “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Batman,” Tim Burton continued his exploration of unique characters and gothic aesthetics with “Edward Scissorhands.” Set in a suburban town, the film focuses on a reclusive loner named Edward (Johnny Depp), who was created by the late Inventor (Vincent Price) but left unfinished with scissor blades for hands. When saleswoman Peg (Dianne Wiest) takes pity on Edward, she invites him into her home, where he falls in love with her teenage daughter (once again played by Winona Ryder). Despite his kindness and humility, not everyone in town accepts Edward. Burton’s visually impressive take on Frankenstein explores themes of conformity and self-acceptance. Stream “Edward Scissorhands” on Disney+.
Casper (1995)
Not every ghost is as mischievous and mean as Betelgeuse; some are even friendly, like Casper (Malachi Pearson), a boylike ghost with a heart of gold. Casper and his uncles, The Ghostly Trio, reside in Whipstaff Manor, located in Friendship, Maine. When egotistical Carrigan Crittenden (Cathy Moriarty) inherits the manor, she hires paranormal expert Dr. James Harvey (Bill Pullman) to get rid of the ghosts. James moves into the manor with his teenage daughter, Kat (Christina Ricci). Despite an initial scare, Casper and Kat become friends, while The Ghostly Trio continue to torment James. Funny and entertaining, “Casper” is the type of ghost story that the whole family can enjoy. Buy or rent “Casper” on Google Play, Prime Video, or Apple TV.
