Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: What Happens to Lydia's Dad?

As a long-time fan of Tim Burton’s whimsical, dark, and delightfully peculiar world, I must say that “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is a worthy addition to the original masterpiece. The movie not only maintains the eccentric charm but also manages to weave in some intriguing plot twists and character developments.

The unique family dynamics portrayed in Tim Burton’s original ‘Beetlejuice’ significantly contributed to its success, making it crucial that family themes also be emphasized in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’. The initial plot details of the sequel revealed that Charles Deetz, played by Jeffrey Jones in the 1988 film, had passed away, and this event served as a catalyst for major plot developments. With the release of the movie, audiences have discovered what became of the character and how his death influenced the sequel’s storyline. However, it should be noted that in 2002, Jones was arrested on charges of child pornography possession and solicitation of a minor. Despite this, Jones has continued to appear in various movies and TV projects. It is possible that Burton’s awareness of Jones’ past may have influenced how he chose to handle the character in the sequel.

WARNING: Spoilers below for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Ever since we last caught up with the Deetz family, it turns out that my beloved sister Lydia (Winona Ryder) has been harnessing her unique talents to talk with spirits from beyond, hosting a TV show all about ghosts! On the other hand, our creative mother Delia (Catherine O’Hara) has garnered recognition in the art world.

Because the peculiarity of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” we can expect that Charles won’t disappear from the story entirely. Instead, he embarks on a fresh ghostly adventure within the Neitherworld. Despite his demise involving a split at the waist, viewers get to witness Charles’ lower half and hear his voice, as he awkwardly navigates the realm while interacting with others.

After Charles’ demise, Delia, Lydia, and Lydia’s daughter Jenna Ortega (Astrid) go back to the famous house from the initial film to mourn the deceased figure. During this time, Astrid finds the model in the attic where Beetlegeuse (Michael Keaton) once lived, implying that the “Ghost with the Most” reappears in the home as well.

Charles’ demise was triggered by a sequence of strange occurrences that were stemmed from Burton’s personal anxieties concerning mortality.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, co-writer Alfred Gough shared that the manner in which Charles meets his end in the animated series is essentially a terrifying scenario for Tim, mirroring his fear of dying in a plane crash followed by near-drowning and being devoured by a shark. This idea was so brilliant to us that we decided to incorporate it into his death scene.

No actor is credited with playing Charles or Charles’ voice in the movie.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is in theaters now.

What were your thoughts on the film? Reach out to Patrick Cavanaugh via Twitter or Instagram for discussions about Star Wars and horror movies!

2024-09-07 00:09

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: What Happens to Lydia’s Dad?

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