Death Boom Director Jessica Chandler Reflects on Mortality

Death Boom is one of the most unique documentaries you will see this year. And, we got the chance to speak with the director as Tribeca gets a taste.

Jessica Chandler was behind the camera for Death Boom, and she admits it’s a wild concept from the word go. Teaming up with Eli Roth to tell the story of the “for-profit” death industry? It’s about as wild as swings get.

Chandler smiled, “I don’t know, Maybe it’s a love of horror. I’m not sure!”

But, as this conversation with The Mary Sue continued, there was a sense of purpose to exploring for-profit funeral homes. Everyone on Earth will have to deal with the realities of the industry around death at some point. Either for a loved one or being the one whose affairs are carried out according to plan.

The director was really struck by how caring these morticians were of these people they are entrusted with. It’s a very serious job with a lot of emotional undercurrent to deal with. Chandler spoke glowingly about the respect evident in every moment with the workers.

“Eli [Roth] and I both, my producer Christina, and our DP Brennan, we all knew it was super important for us for that to come across,” she explained. “Because, they absolutely do. Eileen Hollis, who’s in the film, said, if she’s listening to music while she’s caring for her body, she’ll put headphones in.”

“She’s like, ‘Well, maybe they don’t like that kind of music?’ And I mean, they are very respectful,” Chandler added. “At the body farm? The same thing. Everyone is very respectful to someone’s loved one. And I always say, What they do? I could never do it. I can never be surrounded by grief like that.”

Death Boom and the business of dying

People all around the world are learning more about the process of burying or honoring their loved ones. It feels like there are more people warming up to the ideas of other arrangements more every year. For the director, she just wants them to know there’s a lot of different ways to honor someone.

“ It’s not just the corporate funeral homes, There’s other ways that we can approach this ritual that all of us have to go through,” Chandler pointed out. “I just want people and myself and my family, I want us to be more comfortable with handling death and being involved in the death process.” 

“I want people to be empowered when they are making arrangements for a loved one. And, I want them to know that they have absolute control,” the filmmaker continued. “If they don’t like the way a Funeral Home is behaving, even if they’re already got your loved one there, you can take them back. You don’t have to stay there. I just want people to be informed and be empowered.”

“In the cases where you could be taken advantage of, you’re not taking advantage of. Because, going on with the knowledge, it’s a lot easier to get through the process than learning as you go,” she noted. “Which, I think a lot of us have experienced. And, that’s why pre-planning is so important. Whatever method you decide to go with, I respect it all.”

(featured image: Appian Way/Tribeca)

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