Beetlejuice 4K UHD Blu-ray

The Film

★★★★★ | Scared sheetless

Beetlejuice is Tim Burton's second feature film, yet it remains one of his most iconic. A perfect marriage of director and material, it remains to this day a joyous, completely nonsensical ride that balances thrills with chills perfectly.

After a newlywed couple dies, their souls enter the afterlife. There, they encounter a bureaucratic nightmare of endless waiting rooms and bored case workers, all of whom inform them that this is as good as it gets. As they return to haunt their home, our heroes find it now occupied with nouveau-rich yuppies with atrocious taste. Only their goth daughter, Lydia, can see the ghosts, and she doesn't seem to mind. Desperate, the couple turns to bio-exorcist Beetlejuice, and all hell breaks loose.

I could recap the plot in any number of ways, and each time it would sound slightly different. Beetlejuice only makes sense superficially. It's a more emotional ride than a logical one. The rules are dreamlike and made up if they exist in the first place. There's not much of a conclusion, things just wrap up in a dance number. But it's so charming, witty, and full of life that I find it hard to care.

This is Burton at his most fanciful. It isn't as nuanced or eloquent as Ed Wood, which remains his masterpiece, but it is the most fun of his films. Beetlejuice comes packed with everything Burton loves, and the result is a rich tapestry of all that is kooky and weird. From German impressionist films to swinging conga music, it's a smorgasbord of goofy fun that never fails to delight.

After almost 40 years since its initial release, it's a wonder how little Beetlejuice has aged. That which worked back then still packs a punch, and that which doesn't feels inconsequential. Most importantly, Beetlejuice succeeds because it's never mean, like many of its contemporaries. It's a deeply humane and warm picture, even if it deals with death and a ghoul trying to marry a teenager.

With the surprisingly good sequel still in theaters, Beetlejuice is a perfect companion to check out at home. Especially with a 4K disc that looks and sounds this good.

Technical Specs & Presentation

★★★ | No-frills release

The Nordic release for Beetlejuice is a sadly sparse affair compared to other countries. We only get a single 4K disc, which means no Blu-ray and certainly no digital code. The packaging comes with the newly made poster art that is just meh. Luckily, the disc itself has the patented Burton visuals down perfectly. They're both little things, but for a film like this, I wish the releases would capture the same whimsy in looks as well.

Video

★★★★★ | Reference quality throughout

Luckily, the same complaints do not extend to the picture quality, which is reference level and then some. This is as good as Beetlejuice has looked, and the 4K restoration is downright stunning.

The colors pop, skin tones look natural, and even the stop-motion sequences, something previous editions struggled with, look dazzling. Every shot looks textured and the afterlife sequences are particularly superb. It's the one area that I most wanted the disc to get right, and Beetlejuice does not disappoint. Moody colors stretch into the distance, blacks are inky and deep, and you can pick out details in the set design from every scene. Something that was impossible in previous releases.

If you really want a great demo presentation for what 4K releases can do with older material, look no further than Michael Keaton's introduction about halfway into the film. You can make out the texture in the miniature work! Keaton's clothes look like they could come out of the television screen. It's a marvelous presentation that makes me love the film all over again as if seeing it for the first time.

Audio

★★★★★ | As good sound as this release needs

The Dolby Atmos track is no worse and delivers a loud, rich, and clear experience that highlights Danny Elfman's terrific score beautifully. Dialog is crisp and never drowns out in the elaborate mix.

From the opening sequence, where the iconic Beetlejuice theme plays out in full over the long flyover of the miniature town, to the roar of the sandworms, this is a great audio track that achieves the same highs as the picture restoration. It doesn't distort the past with the new mix, but instead celebrates it by carefully highlighting every aspect to fit modern gear. The result is a pristine restoration worth celebrating, and the best that Beetlejuice has looked and sounded in years – possibly ever.

Extras

★ | Nothing

The Nordic release is bereft of any extras, which is a crime considering the anniversary release and how we know there is footage of the film available. Other regions get barebones packages as well, but those at least include a Blu-ray with the ported-over featurettes of earlier discs. The Finnish release has none of that, and it's a crying shame.

Overall

★★★★ | An audiovisual treat of a comedy classic light on anything else

Beetlejuice is a classic for a reason, and the 4K release is in many ways representative of the best parts of it. On a purely technical level, this is the edition you want to have if you love the film. It's a perfect and accurate restoration of Burton's comedy masterpiece – one that will look and sound superlative for decades to come.

It's just a shame that the extra features are so lacking, and it keeps this from a full five stars. Previous editions have a plethora of making-of features, interviews, and alternative takes on the material. It feels like such a waste that we don't get even old-school trailers in an expensive single-disc release.

If you can get over the disappointment on that front, Beetlejuice still delivers the goods.