Anticipation for a film like the Beetlejuice sequel has built over a long while especially with stops and starts over the years. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” tries to do many things and work on the same auspice as the original but it doesn’t fire quite right. Part of it might have been the time period. Part of it also might have been the writing. A lot of it might have been the time inbetween..

Guillermo De Toro has always worked in the macabre but normally always works within the context of folklore. With "Nightmare Alley", his context is a little different. Granted this is a remake in most ways of the Tyrone Powers film from the 40s but it does take on some resonance today. It is more a character piece on the corruption of power from a perspective that is both Darwinian but also Machiavellian in way.