Tim Burton Opens 81st Venice Film Festival with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice opened the 81st Venice Film Festival with a press screening on August 28, 2024. The sequel, arriving 36 years after the original, follows three generations of the Deetz family returning to Winter River after a family tragedy. Lydia, still haunted by Beetlejuice, sees her life disrupted when her daughter Astrid discovers the model of the city and accidentally opens the portal to the afterlife. Burton described the film as personal and emotional, blending genres with his signature dark tones and irony. He noted it was partly an homage to Italian horror, citing Mario Bava and Dario Argento as influences. The director chose practical effects over CGI, emphasizing the importance of actors seeing real action. New cast members include Jenna Ortega (who also starred in Burton's Wednesday series), Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice's ex-wife, Justin Theroux, and Willem Dafoe. Burton stated that the sequel only moved forward with the approval of original stars Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Ryder. He added that making the film reminded him why he loves filmmaking, calling it energizing after feeling disillusioned with the industry. The film releases in Italian theaters on September 5 via Warner Bros. Pictures.