‘Beetlejuice’ Makes Me Wonder if HGTV Is Available in the Afterlife

The idea of home renovation isn’t typically something that comes to mind when the topic of life after death arises. And yet, if you think about it, maybe it should. Both home makeovers and wherever we go when our pulses stop share a surprising number of sensibilities: the end of one thing and the beginning of something else, a fresh chapter, a chance to start over, a transformation.

This idea struck me midway through my recent walkthrough of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: The Afterlife Experience, a new Los Angeles pop-up event that’s very much a love letter to Tim Burton’s 1988 Beetlejuice and its upcoming sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. The minds behind the Experience have managed to recreate the details that make the franchise so special — including the waiting room from the original film that sees the freshly deceased protagonists standing by for their next move.

What is Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: The Afterlife?

According to Kathleen Wallis, vice president at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Global Themed Entertainment, the Experience took more than 12 months and over 100 people to execute. From the brick wall that serves as the world’s entry (exit?) point, to the sandworm-occupied dunes, to a roaming cast of wonderfully chaotic characters — like Miss Argentina and Beetlejuice himself — the event is a neon-drenched, merrily macabre dream. “One of the things that’s so unique are the actors,” Kathleen said. “It’s a different level of immersion because a lot of these [movie tie-in] experiences are purely visual, which we love, but these characters are pulling you in, helping you create your own unique encounters and memories.”

Kathleen said immersion was top of mind when she enlisted the help of Fever, an entertainment discovery platform that previously helped Warner Bros. Discovery bring to life a comparably striking movie tie-in experience for the Harry Potter films.

“I think it was really important for us to be as authentic as possible,” said Katrina Felice, creative director at Fever. “We knew that there were going to be major fans coming to the Experience, and we wanted to do good by them … and the story, the narrative is so interesting.” Katrina and her team started their design process by watching the original movie. Then they gained access to the new screenplay. “Eventually the WBD theatrical team shared images, videos — anything from forgotten notes you might see in one shot to Tim Burton’s concept art.”

To that point, both Kathleen and Katrina said they made the most of any and all approved creative. For example, a character who might appear in the movie for a matter of seconds gets an expanded narrative in the Experience. Or a blink-and-you-might-miss-it “advertisement” from the new movie is now fully realized in the Experience.

“I want people to take away the feeling of it just being hilarious,” says Katrina, whose favorite part of the experience is The Horrorscopist, a cheeky séance-like setup that utilizes vital information from your Afterlife Passport (which you gain upon entering the Experience, of course). “It’s just not really what you think of the afterlife outside of the context — a very morbid space. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Though some designs in the Experience wouldn’t be out of place in HGTV shows such as Lil Jon Wants to Do What? and Ugliest House in America, both Katrina and Kathleen agree Good Bones is probably the most fittingly named HGTV show for the Afterlife’s waiting room screens.

How to Visit the Afterlife Experience

The Afterlife Experience is open now through Nov. 3. Buy tickets online HERE — or day-of at the venue (but beware, spots are limited!). All ages are welcome to partake in the fun. The Experience is located in Ovation Hollywood at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028. For more info, check out the Experience's website.