Includes spoilers for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice presents a dilemma where Lydia cannot see the ghost of Astrid’s fatherRaising questions about why. Tim Burton returns with the long-awaited sequel to his classic 1988 horror/comedy. Winona Ryder, who reprises her role as Lydia from the original film, and Jenna Ortega, who plays Astrid, lead the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice cast, playing a mother-daughter duo who begin the film with a rift between them. Astrid is a restless loner, not too different from Lydia in the first film.
At some point between the two movies, Lydia has an affair with a man named Richard, who dies on a boating trip in Brazil. Lydia became a famous entertainment personality for her ability to commune with ghostsAfter the events of the original Beetlejuice Movie. This aggravates Astrid, who is ashamed of her mother’s fame, and who does not believe in the supernatural. She is particularly frustrated by Lydia for being able to commune with ghosts but not her father. This was rectified by the US Beetlejuice 2 Finally, but not everything is answered.
Richard’s ghost is seemingly stuck in the afterlife instead of on earth
Richard cannot be tied down to one place to haunt, making him difficult to commune with
From what is known of Richard’s fate, he was In Brazil fighting for climate justice when tragedy struck, leaving him to die in the river. His body was never recovered. Astrid noted that Richard was a “Free spirit“, praised her father for traveling the world And fighting for noble causes. This may have something to do with Richard’s ghost being in the afterlife instead of being bound to a place on earth like the Maitlands in the original movie.
The Maitlands were to stay in their Winter River house for 125 years, but Richard was working in the afterlife. The film doesn’t offer a real explanation for why this is, however It may be because of his free spirit nature, meaning he is likely not bound to a certain place on earth to haunt for the time being.. So he can’t visit Earth, which would allow Lydia to communicate with him, but he can at least keep an eye on Lydia & Astrid from the afterlife.
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Beetlejuice 2 makes the Ghost Rules of Otherlife much more confusing
Beetlejuice’s Afterlife rules are messy, but it doesn’t detract from the movie
The audience rules in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice They aren’t very clear, and the sequel doesn’t put much effort into providing explanations. Some ghosts seem to be able to visit earth while some cannotAnd there is little reasoning behind each situation. Honestly, the film works better this way, as the awkward, loose nature allows its humor and entertainment to take precedence without being interrupted by boring exposition. Beetlejuice 2 is simply a fun ride, and the mechanics of the afterlife are better left unexplained.