Beetlejuice Beetlejuice & Sequels
In the forever-evolving landscape of film and television, one thing is constant: sequels. Hollywood's impulse to extend popular narratives has become a regular feature of contemporary entertainment. However, most fan bases and film buffs are often weary of sequels. While sequels can sometimes breathe new life into a franchise, they usually dilute the original's success and charm. Let's explore the phenomenon of sequel culture through the lens of Beetlejuice and a few lesser-known yet intriguing titles like The Worst Witch, Weird Sister College, The Legend of Boggy Creek, and Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues.
A typical critique of sequel culture is that you take a film that was a labor of love and then try to make a sequel without the originality or the heart to make a profit. Travis Knox, a film producer and professor at Chapman University, said, “It’s purely financial. The cost of marketing feature releases is enormous, and with Hollywood’s target audience avoiding traditional ad-based television, it’s harder to get the word out," he continued. "Releasing a film that has familiarity is perceived as being a safer bet."
Sure, some sequels are even better than the originals. Some examples include The Godfather Part II, Evil Dead II, The Dark Knight, and The Empire Strikes Back. But let’s be honest: the duds outnumber the gems. Sequels and remakes have become such a widespread problem in the industry that just pointing out the few exceptions doesn’t cut it anymore.
According to an article on Yahoo Finance by Alexandra Canal, “Out of the top 60 box office films since 2016 (excluding 2020, as most theaters were shut down due to the pandemic), just five can be classified as true original titles, with sequels driving the bulk of the industry's highest-grossing films.”
An example of this is the upcoming release of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. A sequel to the beloved 1988 cult classic that captured the eccentric genius of Tim Burton and brought Michael Keaton’s unforgettable performance as Beetlejuice, the mischievous and outlandish ghost. While a sequel could explore new aspects of the Beetlejuice universe, there is a legitimate fear that it may never recapture the original's magic. The sequel will once again star Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara. A recent addition is Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega.
The pressure to cater to modern audiences while staying true to the original's offbeat tone can lead to a watered-down version of the elements that made the first film special. The film’s unique blend of dark humor, quirky characters, and macabre aesthetics created a pop culture phenomenon. But does it need a sequel? Will Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, be a Godfather Part II or a Son of the Mask?
An article in Teen Vogue by Sara Delgado states that sequels are not new, with the first sequel coming out in 1916 with The Fall of a Nation. But, a modern trend is creating films and television shows to create a franchise. “Pop culture is suffering from franchise fatigue, with some critics going as far as diagnosing Hollywood with “sequelitis," the numbers-driven impulse to drag on a story despite its narrative suffering, to create a sequel for sequel's sake.”
Now that we’re on the topic of sequels, we wanted to highlight some sequels we have streaming on TheArchive. Before Harry Potter became the go-to for magical school stories, there was The Worst Witch. The 1986 series, based on Jill Murphy’s books, had a charm all its own, with Mildred Hubble’s misadventures at a witching academy winning over fans with its endearing, low-budget vibe.
But things got a bit shaky when the story was extended into Weird Sister College in 2001. Moving the story from the cozy, quirky world of Miss Cackle’s Academy to a more grown-up setting didn’t appeal to all fans. Some critiques of this series were that the sequel tried to mature the story, but instead of feeling like a natural progression, it came off as a bit of a forced attempt to keep the magic alive, but the spark wasn’t there. If you’re a fan of The Worst Witch, watch it to see if you agree!
Even indie films aren’t immune to the sequel bug, as seen with The Legend of Boggy Creek and its follow-up, Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues. The original Boggy Creek from 1972 was a creepy, low-budget horror film that blended a documentary style with local folklore to create something genuinely eerie and memorable. The original Boggy Creek movie, released in 1972, has earned a reputation as a minor classic. Made on a modest budget of just $100,000, Charles B. Pierce’s horror docudrama surprisingly pulled in $20 million at the box office, making it a big success, especially at drive-in theaters.
Some say things didn't go so well when it came time for the sequel, Boggy Creek II. Instead of the raw, unsettling vibe of the first film, the sequel felt more like a standard, run-of-the-mill horror flick. It lost that authentic, almost gritty feel that made the original stand out, and in trying to capitalize on the first movie's success, the sequel ended up being a letdown. But once again, watch it for yourself and see if you agree!
Hollywood's compulsion to expand on popular stories is not going away anytime soon, especially when the box office numbers support the trend and audiences continue watching them out of sheer curiosity. But as audiences, we’re often left wondering: do these stories need to be continued, or should they be kept as they are?
Looking for even more ways to watch and enjoy excellent movies & TV series?!? Head on over to YouTube and subscribe to Grapevine Documentaries, Multicom Entertainment, and TheArchive.These channels are dedicated to aficionados and lovers of cinema. You’ll find rare, retro, and restored films and TV, ranging from indies and series to Oscar-winning docs, unearthed MOWs, a killer horror library, and MORE!
TheArchive channel is dedicated to aficionados and lovers of story, craft, and silver screen fun – streaming rare, retro, and restored films and classic TV. From indies and series, to Oscar winning documentaries, unearthed MOWs, and a killer horror library, TheArchive delivers forgotten, never-before-seen gems for free and many in 4K. Marilyn, Karloff, and Orson Welles stream alongside Reese, Keanu, and Samuel L. Jackson. Find true stories of Queen, Hendrix, and Sinatra, an LGBTQ library, MLK bios, and world history docs. TheArchive has the movies and shows you either saw, should’ve seen, or should be watching now!
Comments
Post a Comment