In his new movieBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, director Tim Burton includes a subtle reference to a movie that he very nearly directed back in 1984.Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceis the highly anticipated sequel to Burton’s cult classic,Beetlejuice.The second installment centers on Lydia Deetz and her struggle to connect with her resentful daughter, Astrid. However, when Astrid is tricked into entering the afterlife, Lydia must call upon the mischievous Beetlejuice to get her daughter back. InBeetlejuice Beetlejuice’scast, there is the return of Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, and Catherine O’Hara, alongside newcomer Jenna Ortega.
Because it is a sequel,Beetlejuice Beetlejuiceincludes all sorts of referencesto the original movie. There is the return of old beloved characters like Bob and Delia Deetz, and reworkings of previous set pieces, such as the moons of Saturn. Yet,Beetlejuice Beetlejuicealso has ties to other movies and series. For example,Burton uses stop-motion to recreate Charles' death, which is a reference to Burton’s previous stop-motion workinCorpse BrideandThe Nightmare Before Christmas.There is one reference though, that is much more subtle and ingrained in Burton’s cinematic history.
Beetlejuice 2’s Burnt Mall Santa Is A Reference To Kate’s Tragic Backstory In Gremlins
Tim Burton’s Connection To Gremlins Explained
InBeetlejuice Beetlejuice,there is a scene where Delia enters the afterlife’s waiting room and sees a dead man who was presumably burned to death while wearing a Santa Claus suit. As it turns out, this creative customer of the afterlife is not just a random addition, but is a reference to the movieGremlins.In the 1984 horror comedy,the character Kate reveals that her father was killed after trying to surprise her as Santa Clausand breaking his neck in the chimney, which is why she has no Christmas spirit.
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What is especially interesting about this Easter egg is that it doesn’t come out of nowhere either. It would be one thing if Burton just randomly referencedGremlins,however, he presumably did it because he was almost chosen to direct the movie. According toSlash Film,Spielberg was interested in Burton after seeing some of his short films, including a stop-motion animated film calledVincent,and a short live-action version ofFrankenweenie.However, the job eventually went to Joe Dante.
Why Tim Burton Ended Up Not Directing Gremlins In The 1980s
What Gremlins Would Have Been Like With Tim Burton
The main reason why Tim Burton was not chosen to directGremlinswas because he had never made a feature film before. At the timeGremlinswas being developed,Burton was working for Disney as a concept artist. He was still a year or two away from directing his first film,Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,and many years from his1988 horror comedy,Beetlejuice.Thus, it was the wiser decision to go with Dante, who had already proven his horror chops on the big screen.
Joe Dante also directed movies likeThe ‘Burbs, Piranha,andThe Howling.
IfGremlinshad been directed by Tim Burton, it might have looked like a very different movie. Although Burton and Dante are alike in their love of the creepy and gory,Burton has a very specific style that permeates almost all of his movies. IfGremlinshad been his first movie, it might have had a taste of the classic Burton deadpan strangeness. On the other hand, it might have been a flop, as Burton lacked enough experience at that time. Regardless, theGremlinsreference inBeetlejuice Beetlejuiceis a clever nod to Tim Burton’s iconic career.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Cast
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.
Gremlins
When a father gives his son Billy a magical creature known as a Mogwai as a gift, the boy is given strict rules to follow regarding its care. When a lapse in judgment creates the mischievous Gremlins - creatures intent on destruction that threaten to ruin Christmas for the entire town of Kingston Falls - it’s up to Billy and his Mogwai companion Gizmo to save the town from the army of little monsters.
