Michael Keaton Outdoes Himself-Great Special Effects and Makeup

Rating: 8/10 (5 October 2013)

A great film to watch at Halloween, but be forewarned that he really does say "Nice f*cking model", then grabs himself, and it's seldom cut-out or "looped", even on cable! Otherwise, a relatively tame film made 30 years ago that still holds up well. Most of the special effects are not CGI and therefore very clever use of full size and miniature models, puppetry, stop-motion, and make-up. (The "Sandworm World" is CGI.) Alec Baldwin and Genna Davis play the hapless couple who don't realize that they are dead and have to call "Betelgeuse" (pronounced "Beetlejuice") to exorcise the living from their own house. We all know who that is going to be. Michael Keaton has a field day dancing around and playing his devilishly dead self. Winona Ryder is the young "creepy" daughter of the new owners of the house. At first, she is the only one that will see the "ghostly inhabitants" who are really just nice friendly "spirits". Curious mis-casting with Dick Cavett and Robert Goulet in terrible, minor roles. It's fun, slow in spots, and yet seems way too short at the end. I love the witch doctor, the guy with the shrunken head, and the 2-piece (she is sawed in half) magician's assistant, all siting there in the afterlife waiting room, for their "social worker" to help them. Everyone appears there exactly as they died. The man with the tire-treads on him looks a bit flat. The girl with green make-up. Not for little kids, due to the great make-up/effects and cuss word. Danny Elfman's haunting musical score is the best! Don't ya just hate sandworms?