Lisa Frankenstein – Movie Review (3/5)

LISA FRANKENSTEIN is a new horror-comedy out on Digital now. It’s written by Diablo Cody (Jennifer’s Body) and set in the 1980s. While it has a lot going for it, I found it too long and lacking punch. Read our full Lisa Frankenstein movie review and find it on VOD now!

LISA FRANKENSTEIN is out on digital now as well as still playing in US theaters. The new horror-comedy is set in the 1980s with all the kitsch and camp this involves. Including an iconic soundtrack full of 80s music.

Also, it has a Frankenstein-inspired story and was written by Diablo Cody (Jennifer’s Body). What more do you need to know? It was certainly all the information I needed to get intrigued. As a whole, I did find it too long at 1 hour and 41 minutes. However, I am still very happy that I watched it!

Continue reading our Lisa Frankenstein movie review below. Find it on Digital from February 27, 2024.

A horror-comedy coming-of-rage story!

No, that’s not a typo, but rather to underline that Lisa Frankenstein is both a coming-of-age story and (even more so!) a very dark coming-of-rage adventure for the title character Lisa.

Kathryn Newton (Freaky) stars as Lisa and delivers everything needed for the role. From a somewhat quiet and dark teenage girl to one who discovers her strengths, Kathryn Newton takes charge as Lisa.

Cole Sprouse (Riverdale) plays a young man who died more than a century ago. During the opening credits, we see an animated story of his brief love life and untimely death. Having never been married, he is laid to rest at a “Bachelor” cemetery. In the 1980s, this is where Lisa goes to relax.

The cemetery has been abandoned and the small-town residents believe it to be haunted, so Lisa gets the place all to herself. Then one night after a thunderstorm, lightning strikes. As it strikes into the tomb of the young man, he is reanimated and goes looking for the girl who also sits by his grave and talks to him.

This is the beginning of a true coming-of-rage love story. It turns out the reanimated version of the dead man – known only as “The Creature” as his name can no longer be made out on his tombstone – is missing a few body parts. Of course, Lisa is ready to help him get those!

A great supporting cast

Along with Kathryn Newman and Cole Sprouse, Lisa Frankenstein has a wonderful supporting cast. I especially have to highlight Liza Soberano (Alone/Together) as Lisa’s stepsister, Taffy. Usually, step-anything is mean or downright cruel. Taffy, however, is an actual sweetheart!

As the love interest of Lisa – until The Creature, anyway – there’s Henry Eikenberry (The Crowded Room) as Michael. Also, Joey Harris (Halloween Ends) is a goth girl who’s always hanging around Michael, and I can’t help but feel that her character had more of a story originally.

Joe Chrest (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stranger Things) is the classic clueless parent, while Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Bly Manor, Gunpowder Milkshake) is the stereotypical mean stepmom.

Actually, she’s also a pretty damn mean biological mother to Taffy. Still, it’s great to see Carla Gugino in anything! As it tends to be the case for Diablo Cody (the screenwriter of this movie), her female protagonists can have a mean streak. To put it mildly!

Lisa Frankenstein in the same universe as Jennifer’s Body

Often, Diablo Cody’s title characters (as well as key supporting characters) start with a situation where they’re being mistreated. This results in us understanding that they want to dole out some payback when the opportunity presents itself.

However, it also tends to evolve and escalate in ways that can no longer be excused. For Lisa, it also goes too far, and she doesn’t even have the same excuse or need for it that the titular Jennifer had in Jennifer’s Body.

However, for the record, Diablo Cody has revealed that in her mind, Lisa Frankenstein takes place in the same universe as the cult-favorite Jennifer’s Body.

I personally hope that means we’ll get another movie, so we’ll have a trilogy from this universe. Not that Diablo Cody needs to stop at three. I would just prefer that the next one is closer in edginess to Jennifer’s Body. As much as I love horror comedies, this one could’ve gone harder in a few ways.

Watch Lisa Frankenstein on Digital VOD now!

Lisa Frankenstein is directed by Zelda Williams, and this serves as her feature-length directorial debut. It’s a strong one in sense of style and direction, which is definitely thanks to Zelda Williams. However, the pacing could have been tighter. That really is my main issue with this horror-comedy.

It was written by Academy Award® winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Jennifer’s Body). While I do adore the style of Diablo Cody, she tends to write very flawed female leads. Even unlikable as was the case with both Jennifer’s Body and Lisa Frankenstein.

The difference between the two for me is that Jennifer’s Body packed a lot more bite and punch. With a setting in the 1980s, that does make for a different style, so I do want to acknowledge that. Still, I was hoping to love this much more than I did. I liked it, but I don’t expect to watch it again.

I do, however, very much look forward to seeing what Zelda Williams and Diablo Cody do next!

LISA FRANKENSTEIN is out on digital platforms to own or rent from February 27, 2024.

Details

Directed By: Zelda Williams
Written By: Diablo Cody
Cast: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Liza Soberano, Henry Eikenberry, Joe Chrest, Carla Gugino