Four Jokes from ‘Beetlejuice’ That Went Way Over My Head as a Kid
Have you ever watched a movie from your childhood and realized there was a bunch of adult content that went right over your head?
That’s Beetlejuice for me, the 1988 Tim Burton classic where a recently deceased couple looks to scare a family out of their beloved home with the help of a malicious spirit, and quickly realize that saying his name three times was a terrible mistake. Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Beetlejuice still terrifies me to this day, and while the quality of the film screams “'80s”, there is no denying its nightmarish qualities.
As a child, I would watch this movie through sweaty hands as I shielded my eyes, but as an adult, I’m catching on to all of the jokes that were meant for mom and dad.
We are in full swing into one of my favorite times of the year, where two of the biggest debates are pumpkin versus apple and what scary movie to watch.
Beetlejuice was my scary choice last night, and there were several instances during the two-hour movie that had me wondering how I was even allowed to watch this as a child.
It has me wondering what else I have missed over the years, but for now, let’s focus on the perverted behavior of Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), the sassy wit of Lydia (Winona Ryder) that is beyond her years, and the controversial deaths of some of the characters in the “death waiting room.”
Here are four moments from Beetlejuice that went right over my head as a kid: