What kind of creature is ‘Beetlejuice’?
In the 36 years between the original Beetlejuice and its recent sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, audiences have had plenty of time to reflect on the story. But what exactly is Beetlejuice? In the first film, the notorious and demonic character played by Michael Keaton might initially seem like a ghost. However, his powers and abilities go beyond what is typically expected from ghosts, suggesting that he might be something else entirely.
From the moment he enters the scene, Beetlejuice appears to be a typical vessel of the afterlife. His grotesque demeanour, rough-around-the-edges presentation, and general ability to terrorise the afterlife seem to point to everything signifying a ghost. However, as the narrative unfolds, his behaviour, ability to flit between worlds, and supernatural abilities seem to suggest he might be more complex than meets the eye.
Unlike many ghosts in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice universe, who are typically bound by various rules and limitations, Beetlejuice himself exhibits abilities that defy simple categorisation. He can control both people and other ghosts, manipulate reality, and incite chaos with ease and without apparent reason, making him distinct from the usual ghostly archetype.
Moreover, while many ghosts in Burton’s world reflect their pre-death states in their afterlife forms, Beetlejuice stands apart, his former life shrouded in mystery as he seems to have embraced his darker tendencies, resulting in a highly unpredictable nature that complements his powers. In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, he takes this a step further by intensifying his trickster antics, suggesting he has more in common with a chaotic demon than a regular ghost.
So, is Beetlejuice a demon?
Although the specific manifestation of what, exactly, Beetlejuice is remains relatively unclear, it’s undeniable that he is a unique phenomenon that cannot be defined by the limitations of the movie universe. Burton might more often than not provide answers to burning questions in overt, often confrontational ways, but he seems intent on keeping Beetlejuice’s specifics ambiguous, likely as a ploy to serve the surrealist nature of the worlds he creates.
Although a beloved character, Beetlejuice is also a consistently negative presence. He longs to marry Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz despite the inappropriateness of such a partnership and consistently wreaks havoc on those around him for personal gain or due to boredom. He enjoys altering others’ realities for his own entertainment and disrespects boundaries in the same way as fun.
Although Burton has revealed some aspects of Beetlejuice’s past with various plot devices, like the vengeful ghost of his ex-wife in the sequel, the character’s specific species or subtype remains a mystery. That said, considering his obvious deviation from traditional ghost-like stereotypes, the best guess is that Beetlejuice is an elder demon with nothing better to do than continue to be an eternal annoyance for the living until he gains freedom from the afterlife.
