Today we look at the funky and fanatic ghosts from the mind of Tim Burton in Beetlejuice.
Adam and Barbara are nearly identical in their spookiness. Both have the ability to change their form, manipulate objects in the world of the living. Adam however was less creative in his spookiness, only chopping off his head, while Barbara went a bit more wild. 6/10 spookiness.
The danger seems to be on the level of a strong poltergeist. They can easily manipulate objects in the world, and as such it would seem have the ability to do things such as push an enemy down the stairs, or perhaps stab or bash them with a weapon. 5/10 danger.
Transform is a 1. While he looks indentical to his living self, he has the ability to change his form, and as such will not be a 0. 1/10 Transform.
Name is just the name of him while living. 1/10.
Barbara is a bit more creative than her husband, changing her form in more dramatic ways to be spooky. The earliest example being when she rips her face off while hanging in a closet. 8/10 spookiness.
Danger will match her husband as her abilities seem to be identical to that of Adam, and so will be given the same 5/10 for danger as he did.
Transform will also still be 1 for the same reasons. Identical to living self, ability to morph. 1/10 transform.
1 for name. Just living name. 1/10 name.
Extremely creative and powerful in the way of spooking. Constantly shifting his form with bugs and tentacles, dismembering limbs and possessing both the living and the dead. A professional spookster. 10/10 spook.
Because of his skill with possession, along with his extreme poltergeist strength, Betelgeuse will be put higher than the Maitlands as he is so experienced, saying himself he "lived through the Black Plague". 7/10 danger.
Transform will be a 5? He is still very human in his relaxed form, but has extreme transformation abilities, so a 5 seems like a fair place to put him. 5/10 transformation.
The name is great. Betelgeuse is a very ancient sounding name, and having the same pronunciation as the film's title, "Beetlejuice" adds an extra kick. Along with being very well known, Betelgeuse gets a 10/10 for his name.
Also known as "Assistant", the Half Lady is a pretty creepy figure, having the open wound visible on both ends. However she never has a very spooky demeanour. 3/10 spook.
Danger is likely on the level of the Maitlands, but never uses it. As such we will give these passive ghosts all a 1/10 for danger because they never perform any dangerous actions.
Transform will be considered a 5 as she has 2 halves she can control together, along with the pale-blue skin tone. 5/10 transform.
Name is inconsistent, not really confirmed, as such a 0/10.
Only seen very briefly in the waiting room, the Book Ghoul is as basic as designs get. 3/10 spooky, as he still is somewhat haunting.
The danger is a passive ghost and so a 1/10 danger.
The transform here is fairly weak. 2/10 transform.
Name is not listed. 0/10 name.
I like this guy. Another passive no name, this guy has a cool look. I like the idea of the shrunken head still being attached to the big body. 4/10 spookiness.
Passive ghost 1/10 danger.
Transform is maybe a 4? Just a shrunken sewn up head. 4/10 transform.
No official name 0/10 name.
Ferndock has a name. What a waste of a character with a name. He just choked on what looks like chicken bones and has become reddened. He honestly looks more pathetic than spooky. 2/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
Transform might even be same as when alive, but we can assume he can also change form, so a 1/10.
Name is same as when alive one can assume. So another 1/10 for name.
This guy looks just like Johnny Depp to me. With a snake in a sleeping bag. Pretty creepy though. 3/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
Transform looks like another 1/10 to me.
No official name. 0/10 name.
The Sea Diver has a cool design. I like that the shark is still attached to his leg. That adds a bit of spook. 4/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
Looks to be another 1/10 transform here.
And no official name. 0/10 name.
This one actually makes me uncomfortable. Just an extremely charred man. 6/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
3/10 transformation I think. The frail burned black body is certainly a decent transformation.
No official name means 0/10 for name.
This guy looks so boring. He literally looks just like a patient in a hospital. 1/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 spook.
Transform is a 1/10. Again looks just like a normal guy.
No official name. 0/10 name.
Oooooooo I have greeeeeen skinnnnnnn! 2/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
Green skin. 2/10 transform.
No official name. 0/10 name.
Miss Argentina is also going to exist for the stripper ladies in the mini Betelgeuse town because they look very similar and those ones exist onscreen for literally 2 seconds. Miss Argentina disturbs me because she has slit wrists and that is one of those things that just makes me personally really creeped out so she gets a 6/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
Transform seems like a 2. Green skin. 2/10 transform.
Okay. Miss Argentina is never referred to as any name in the movie BUT it says Miss Argentina on the sash so I feel like that can serve as a name for her, and as such give her a 3/10 for the name. A pageant contestant being undead feels like an interesting idea for a story. 3/10 name.
When I read "Road Kill Man" I can only say it the way that Brian David Gilbert says "STAR MAN" in his Mega Man robots video. Anyway. I really like this guy's design. And that he is given a special job with a line specifically designed for him to slide into a slot. I love it. Pretty freaky looking too. 6/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
Transform will be a 3 because being completely flattened like this and still using his fingers means something to me and it should mean something to you too. 3/10 transform.
No official name for Road Kill Man but I love him anyway. 0/10 name.
Skeletons are always spooky, but when they wear see-through clothes and still have hair, they are a little bit spookier. 5/10 spook for the skele-clerks.
Passive bones. 1/10 danger.
Transform is a 1/10. Bones.
No name. 0/10 name.
These guys are pretty sad looking. Just floating around in the Room of the Lost Souls. So so sad. And spooky! 6/10 spook.
Danger is going to be 0. They seem to be trapped in this state of no choice or ability but to float like the liquidy orbs in a lava lamp forever. 0/10 danger.
2/10 transform for these wrinkly old floaties.
This is referred to as "The Room of the Lost Souls" so I think calling these guys "The Lost Souls" is perfectly fair. They get a 4/10 for that name.
This is a janitor. 2/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
1/10 transform for the janitor.
No official name. 0/10 name.
JUNOOOOOOO. Nobody gets that reference. Juno is just an old lady. No transformations, but does get a little heated with the football players later on. 2/10 spook.
Passive ghost. 1/10 danger.
1/10 transform for this normal little old lady.
Juno is just her name. 1/10 name.
A full team of zombie football players would be a daunting visual without context. Imagine a bunch of jacked guys with rotting flesh and literal armor on. Yikes. 5/10 spook.
Passive ghosts. 1/10 spook.
3/10 transformation because they look a little zombish.
No official name. 0/10 name.
The final unique ghost to be seen in the film. I feel a wee bit uncomfortable talking about his design. Not sure how accurate and unoffensive it might be. Not sure if I am even okay to call him a Voodoo Ghost but I am going to stick with it because he does interact with the shrunken head which I do believe is a voodoo sort of thing. So anyway. How am I going to rank this possibly offensive depiction of another culture in spookiness? Uh.... a.... 2? A 2/10 spook.
Danger will be a 2 because they do more than just sit there. They also shrink Betelgeuse's head. 2/10 danger.
Transform will probably be a 1. 1/10 for this.
No official name. 0/10 name.