25 reasons why we still love Beetlejuice

Screenshot of official Beetlejuice trailer via warnerbros.com.

20. The Haunted House Itself

Often ghost stories feature a home that’s haunted, and Beetlejuice is no exception. What’s funny in this film is that it’s unclear who’s haunting whom. The Maitlands are the ghosts of the story, but when the Deetzes move into their beloved home, Barbara and Adam see them as the intruders. They’re also more frightened by the New Yorkers than the Deetzes are of them—especially Delia, who disrespects the home and seeks to change it dramatically.

“No organic flow through,” Delia’s designer Otho remarks as he looks critically at the wallpaper. “I noticed that too,” Delia says. “It’s like a giant ant farm.” She adds later when strolling through the bathroom, “Oh, look. An indoor outhouse.”

The house becomes a battleground between the two families with their differing aesthetics and values. Adam and Barbara want their quiet home to themselves, perhaps just a cleaner version of it. (“Maybe this is heaven,” Adam muses to her when they’re alone. “Heaven there wouldn’t be dust on everything,” Barbara replies.) Delia, on the other hand, wants the home to fit her modern style, and Charles seems to ultimately enjoy it for its real estate value.

“My father bought this place,” Lydia tells the Maitlands. “He never walks away from equity.”