Warning: This article contains spoilers for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!

Tim Burton movies have a clear aesthetic, tone, and style that’s unmistakable, and Beetlejuice 2 is no exception.

Like the first movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice tells a twisting, turning story centering on the 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 2 includes 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 Beetlejuice includes 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 humor that 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, the ending of Beetlejuice 2 brings 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 minor Beetlejuice 2 character is 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 with SlashFilm. 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 the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice baby bulge out like those in Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie, and The 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.

Source: SlashFilm