Streaming
Service:
Peacock
Movie
Name/Year: Lisa
Frankenstein (2024)
Genre:
Comedy, Horror, Romance
Length:
1h
41min
Rating:
PG-13
Director:
Zelda Williams
Writer:
Diablo Cody
Actors:
Kathryn Newton, Liza Soberano, Cole Sprouse, Carla Gugino, Joe
Chrest, Jenna Davis, Trina LaFargue, Paola Andino, Joshua Montes,
Chris Greening, Joey Harris, Henry Eikenberry, Jennifer Pierce
Mathus, Jailyn Rae, Bryce Romero, Charlie Talbert, Ray Gaspard,
Geraldine Singer, Destinie Jones, Johnny Ballance, Donna Duplantier,
Sylvia Grace Crim, Walker Babington, Ritchie Montgomery
IMDb
Blurb:
A coming of RAGE love story about a teenager and her crush, who
happens to be a corpse. After a set of horrific circumstances bring
him back to life, the two embark on a journey to find love, happiness
- and a few missing body parts.
Cat’s
Point of View:
I was really sad that I didn't get a
chance to go see Lisa Frankenstein on the big screen. I have
been seriously excited to watch this movie ever since I saw the
trailer for the first time. This film was absolutely up my alley –
the '80s, the music of The Cure, and a variation on the
Frankenstein's monster tale? Sold. Shut up and take my money –
except, I just didn't have extra money, so alas.
You can imagine that I was doing mental
cartwheels when Lisa Frankenstein became available to stream.
It was, after all, my personal #4 pick as well as Selina's #3 pick
within her February 2024 Top 20 article.
I sat down with my daughter, whom has
long been a fan of Cole Sprouse (Five Feet Apart, Moonshot,
Riverdale) dating back to his The Suite Life of Zack &
Cody (2005-2008) days when she was little, and we had a blast
watching Lisa Frankenstein together. She enjoyed it about as
much as I did, even without catching all the little Easter eggs that
had me giggling.
Though, there was one or more that had
me getting a little misty-eyed as I prepped to write this article, as
there were nods to the great Robin Williams (Patch Adams, Aladdin,
Mrs. Doubtfire) hidden in plain sight. I hadn't immediately
realized that this film's director Zelda Williams (Shrimp,
Dark/Web, Kappa Kappa Die) is the daughter of one of the world's
most beloved comedic actors. This is also her full-length feature
directorial debut. She had such a deft touch in bringing this darkly funny romance to life.
I was also surprised to learn via some
random trivia that writer Diablo Cody (United States of Tara,
Ricki and the Flash, Tully) confirmed in Lisa Frankenstein
premier interview with Deadline
that this movie takes place within the same universe as her earlier
work, Jennifer's Body (2009). I digress...
Sprouse wasn't the only notable cast
member, of course. Joe Chrest (Oldboy, Stranger Things, Killers of
the Flower Moon) and Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House,
Gunpowder Milkshake, The Fall of the House of Usher) were great
choices for the parents of the titular Lisa and her sister Taffy,
played by Liza Soberano (Everyday I Love You, Make it with You,
Alone/Together). She also embodied her role very well and I had
flashbacks to some of the more popular girls I knew during the
timeframe of this movie.
Lisa's Kathryn Newton (Pokemon:
Detective Pikachu, Big Little Lies, Freaky) was no one to sneeze
at, either. I was riveted to her performance and felt for her in her
unhinged story. In spite of everything that happened as the movie
barreled along, I was still rooting for her to find some sort of
happy outcome. I had to pause and question my own moral compass for a
moment, all things considered, but am at peace with the fact that
this was fantastical make-believe, after all.
The humor within Lisa Frankenstein
was spot on and not too over-the-top. There were layers of topical
points that would resonate with today while still remaining firmly
rooted in the late 1980s setting. It certainly took me back to the
era of big hair, Precious Moments figures, and house phones shaped
like anything other than an actual phone. Kudos to the wardrobe and
makeup departments here, too. I was really transported to that era
between the performances and those extra little touches.
Lisa Frankenstein is billed as a
horror movie, generally, before the rom-com elements; and I think
that was probably not the best way to view this story. Sure, there
are many horror elements here – the undead, bugs and creepy
crawlies where they shouldn't be, gross bodily fluids, and oh the
occasional axe-murder. Nothing was overtly graphic, however. There
was blood splatter but never anything gory enough to compare to most
single genre horror movies – much less other horror-comedies. The
horror is more of a side-product of the story rather than its focus.
I think critics that are disappointed with Lisa Frankenstein
seem to not quite be able to get over that particular notion.
Lisa Frankenstein with its
nostalgia and epic throwback soundtrack was meant to be a quirky
comedic romance where the horror was something that had to be
overcome, rather than the actual personal drive of the story.
I would gladly watch this film many
times over and would recommend anyone even remotely interested in any
of the genres touched on with Lisa Frankenstein should really
just give it a chance.
Rotten
Tomatoes Critic Score – 51%
Rotten
Tomatoes Audience Score – 81%
Metascore
–
47%
Metacritic
User Score –
5.1/10
IMDB
Score –
6.1/10
Trust
the Dice: Cat’s Rating –
5/5
Movie
Trailer:
