Beetlejuice

Heads up – Beetlejuice is one of Tim Burton’s darkly funny fantasy flicks, but it’s got a few themes that are heavier than you might remember. The story follows Barbara and Adam (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin), a young married couple who have to come to terms with being dead, and there’s also a teen character who’s dealing with thoughts of death and suicide. The film’s packed with creepy visuals, and the language is pretty strong – you’ll hear “s–t,” “f–k,” “hell,” “dammit,” and “piss off.” There’s also some smoking, drinking, and a casual mention of Valium.

Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) himself is… well, he’s a lot. He finds a brothel and gets invited in by women there, makes sexual gestures (like grabbing his crotch and dry humping), and even tries to kiss Barbara without her consent. There’s also an uncomfortable moment where he tries to pressure Lydia (Winona Ryder) into marrying him. The afterlife scenes are wild, with a waiting room full of people in all kinds of eerie, gory states. Main characters get chased by giant sandworms, and one poor guy turns mummy-like in seconds.

As for representation, the movie doesn’t feature any major characters of color. However, the women do stand up to Beetlejuice, and Lydia’s struggle with depression is handled with sensitivity. There’s also a heavier-set male character who comes across as stereotypically feminine, implying he might be gay.