Location of Beetlejuice's Movie Set
Bringing Life to the Afterlife: Exploring the Filming Locations of Tim Burton's 'Beetlejuice'
Tim Burton's 1988 cult classic, 'Beetlejuice', continues to captivate audiences with its quirky characters, gothic aesthetic, and dark humor. A prime contributing factor to the film's lasting charm is its unique and atmospheric setting. In this piece, we delve into the filming locations of 'Beetlejuice', revealing how these locales helped bring Burton's vision to life.
East Corinth, Vermont: A Timeless Backdrop
Contrary to appearances, 'Beetlejuice' does not take place in the fictional town of Winter River, Connecticut. Instead, the majority of the movie was filmed in the picturesque and quaint village of East Corinth, Vermont. The town's rolling hills, old-fashioned architecture, and secluded feel created the perfect canvas for the film's eerie yet endearing atmosphere.
Choosing Vermont: The Perfect Ingredient
Director Tim Burton sought a setting that felt both timeless and out of place, a location anomalous enough to blend the normal with the supernatural. East Corinth, with its rural charm, offered the ideal foundation.
The Maitland House: A Temporary Masterpiece
One of the most recognizable locations in the film is the Maitlands' house, perched atop a hill overlooking the countryside. However, the house was not a real building; it was a temporary facade constructed specifically for the film. The production team built the house on a hill to create a dramatic and surreal setting. Once filming concluded, the set was dismantled, leaving no trace of the haunted house.
Additional Filming Locations
Although East Corinth served as the primary filming location, some additional scenes were shot elsewhere:
- Culver City, California: Several interior scenes and special effects sequences were filmed in The Culver Studios in Culver City, California. This location allowed for the creation of the film's wilder, supernatural environments, such as the bureaucratic afterlife office and Beetlejuice's bizarre underworld.
- The Bridge Scene in East Corinth, Vermont: The famous scene where Adam and Barbara Maitland (played by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) crash off a covered bridge was filmed near East Corinth. Filmmakers constructed a temporary covered bridge facade over an existing bridge to create the illusion of the Maitlands' tragic accident. Like the Maitland house, the bridge disappeared after filming wrapped.
Shaping 'Beetlejuice': Setting and Style
Tim Burton's films are known for their distinct visual style, and 'Beetlejuice' is no exception. The choice of East Corinth, Vermont, added to the film's sense of isolation and timelessness, making it feel like a small town where anything could happen. The combination of real-world locations and elaborate studio sets created a perfect balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary.
The contrast between the idyllic, New England town and the bizarre, grotesque afterlife amplifies 'Beetlejuice's visual appeal. The natural beauty of Vermont lends charm to the film, while the stylized sets contribute to its dreamlike quality.
Visiting 'Beetlejuice' Filming Locations
Fans eager to visit real filming locations from 'Beetlejuice' can travel to East Corinth, Vermont. While the Maitland house no longer exists, the town retains its charming New England feel, with many of the roads and landscapes seen in the movie still recognizable today.
Culver City, California, remains a major hub for filmmaking, and although the interior sets are no longer extant, film enthusiasts can tour The Culver Studios to catch a glimpse of the talent at work.
In Sum
The filming locations of 'Beetlejuice' played a pivotal role in bringing Burton's vision to life. East Corinth, Vermont, provided the perfect small-town backdrop, while Culver City, California, studio sets allowed for the film's more fantastical elements. The combination of these locations helped create a world that feels both familiar and otherworldly—a perfect union for the film's unique combination of horror and comedy.
For fans of 'Beetlejuice', visiting the film's real-life locations can be a nostalgic journey into one of the most iconic films of the 1980s. Whether you explore Vermont's rolling hills, linger near the eerie covered bridge, or imagine the eccentric afterlife offices, the world of 'Beetlejuice' continues to live on, much like its mischievous title character.
1. The world of 'Beetlejuice' does not strictly belong to the fictional Connecticut, but instead, it finds its roots in the real-life East Corinth, Vermont, a location that contributed significantly to the setting's timeless, eerie, yet endearing atmosphere.
2. In the realm of 'Beetlejuice' entertainment, the unique blend of real-world locations, such as East Corinth, and elaborately crafted studio sets in Culver City, California, created a striking balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary, captivating countless fans for decades.
