“BeetleJuice BeetleJuice”

Let’s have a toast for the ghost with the most. Twenty-five years after the release of Tim Burton’s cult classic, the wild underworld of “Beetlejuice” is back. 

“BeetleJuice BeetleJuice” follows the Deetz family who return home to Winter River after a tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life turns upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, becomes swooped into the underworld. 

Returning stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara lead the way. Newcomers Jenna Ortega and Willem Dafoe add an incredible spark to the horror-comedy. 

The film’s visuals and world-building are stunning and it’s all backed by so many strong comedic performances. Keaton and the character Beetlejuice is a match made in the underworld. But one of the movie’s biggest problems is that he’s barely on-screen. He restorts to a lot of monologues, which felt like a misutilization of his talents. 

Ortega fits this universe so well and brings another striking performance, but it’s hard to watch this movie and not see it as a “Wednesday” variant. There are so many similar plot beats that it feels like a copy of the modern “Addams Family” adaptation. 

The film’s pacing also felt very off. When it picks up, the movie is solidly enjoyable and entertaining. But when it’s down, the movie feels a little dull and directionless. 

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is very middle of the pack, but it’s always fun being in a Burton world and it’s always very easy to appreciate his auteur vision. It’s great to have a funny, spooky Halloween movie for kids and families to enjoy. 

“Speak No Evil” 

You can’t speak it, but you can hear it and see it. Who needs couple’s therapy when you have a huge, isolated ranch in the woods? 

“Speak No Evil” follows a family who is invited to spend a whole weekend in another family’s home in the countryside after meeting them on vacation. But they realize that the family has some horrifying secrets and intentions. 

James Watkins directs “Speak No Evil.” He also directed 2012’s “The Woman in Black.” The film stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis and Scoot McNairy. 

Don’t look now, but “Speak No Evil” might be the biggest surprise of the year. For a movie that looks like a very average horror film in its marketing, there’s a surprising amount of actual depth and subtitles in the storytelling and writing. A standout aspect of the film is that it’s only truly a horror film in the third act, the rest of the film is an examination of parenthood, marriage and masculinity in the modern age. 

McAvoy carries the movie playing a literal beast of a character. The energy and physicality he brings to every character he plays is masterful. McAvoy, much like Sebastian Stan, is asserting himself as one of the finest working actors today after being in so many big franchises, which is a joy to watch. 

The film does have some pacing issues and can feel offly slow at points, but it grips you in the third act. It also could have embraced the alpha male vs. beta male dynamic more in the third act. The dark humor is also off the charts and provides levity since the film thrives on tension. 

If you’re looking for a crazy, modern horror film with substance to watch this spooky season, check out “Speak No Evil.”    

“Transformers One”

Another year, another time to roll out. The Autobots are back, but this time it’s animated, with a whole new world to explore. 

“Transformers One” follows Optimus Prime, Megatron and the Autobots in their early years, on an adventure to learn about a war that ravaged their home planet of Cybertron. 

Josh Cooley who directs this movie is most known for directing “Toy Story 4.” “Transformers One” features a remarkably famous voice cast, with Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson and Keegan-Michael Key. 

In a different, yet similar vein as “Speak No Evil,” “Transformers One” was an extremely pleasant surprise. It’s a truly epic space opera that feels like a mix of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Indiana Jones” and those old direct-to-DVD Bionicle movies that so many kids grew up on. In a lot of ways, “Transformers One” is what 2022’s “Lightyear” should’ve been – a fun space adventure that echoes “Star Wars” in new and interesting ways. 

“Transformers One” doesn’t feel like a movie you’d see in many theaters. It looks like a cash grab on the surface and in the promotional material. But the film features way more depth and world-building than anyone would’ve thought.

The animation style is also quite interesting and unique. It resembles the animation in “Star Wars Rebels,” where it suits the action well. In a landscape where Pixar seeks to make the fantastical look realistic (which has created some really beautiful designs), it’s cool to see a different approach to creating a style and look for a big animated film. 

Despite being so famous, the voice cast disappears into their roles seamlessly. Hemsworth and Henry’s iconic accents are nowhere in their respective characters. This gives so much life to what could’ve easily been “movie star” roles for these actors. 

The only thing holding this film back is some pacing issues and rushed characterization. But it doesn’t take away from one of the most fun cinematic experiences of the year that feels made for fans but can be enjoyed by everyone. 

With fall and awards season approaching, cinema is bound to ramp up as 2024 nears a close.