"Sometimes, I just kill myself." - Joker

The Maitlands in the afterlife reception area

To say that America is a death-denying society is an understatement. Unlike most cultures that view death as a celebration of life, Americans take it as a time of mourning. Death is a mysterious notion that most Americans love to avoid because we prefer to stray away from anything dismal and gloomy. We discuss the subject infrequently; we get to a point where we believe it does not even occur. We choose to bury the dark concept in the back of our minds so much that we simply look at it as a thought. However, when death strikes a family member or a close friend, we are forced to deal with the unfavorable situation financially and expressively. In regards to Beetlejuice, Tim Burton flipped the concept of death on its head. Normally in a movie or in life, when a death occurs, people are sent into a state of shock. The atmosphere usually escalates, tears are falling, and hearts are racing. This doesn't seem to be the case in Beetlejuice.  For example, early in the movie, the Maitlands are sent to their deaths; the situation is very comical instead of horrific because a dog stepping off a board caused them to fall into the water and drown. Americans not only fear death, but they fear the idea of what comes after death.  In Beetlejuice, Burton played with idea of an afterlife. For instance, when one dies, it is thought that he or she will go to heaven or hell. In the movie, Burton created a little afterworld that was very similar to normal life. Barbara and Adam Maitland cannot leave their house; however, when they do, they fall into a very colorful afterworld with strange serpent-like creatures traveling through sand. Following the Handbook for the Recently Deceased, the Maitlands construct a door that leads them to an eerie waiting room. It is here where they are attempting to make an appointment with Juno, their caseworker.  These few instances reflect Tim Burton’s attempt at making a mockery out of society’s fear of death. He strategically portrayed death in this movie in a way to show us that there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to dying. We should acknowledge that death is in fact very real, but instead of dodging its existence, we shall embrace it, and live our lives to the fullest.