Cinelinx’s Becky went to see Lisa Frankenstein over the weekend to see if it was worth checking out.
I have had something of a fixation on the Frankenstein story dating back to my high school days when I first read the original novel. This obsession easily carried over to film and I tend to keep an eye out for any works based, however loosely, on the Frankenstein story. Thus, when I saw the first trailer for Lisa Frankenstein and saw that it was a) a take on Frankenstein set in the 1980s and b) the directorial debut of Zelda Williams, well I just couldn’t pass that up.
Lisa Frankenstein is a pitch black romantic comedy set in 1989 and follows Lisa, an oddball high schooler who constantly struggles to fit in with her fellow teenagers. Having developed a crush on a particularly handsome resident of the local cemetery, Lisa is stunned one night to find this man brought to life after a strange lightning storm. Thus begins a macabre tale that mixes the Gothic and the sparkly vibes of the 80s in ways I didn’t think were possible.
Kathryn Newton stars as Lisa Swallows in LISA FRANKENSTEIN, a Focus Features release.
Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
I have to admit I’ve struggled with how to describe this film ever since I left the theater. It’s such a mish-mash of so many different things that it feels almost impossible to categorize. Ultimately, Lisa Frankenstein is a good, mostly solid film. My issue with it is that it feels like they didn’t take the concept as far as they could have.
Lisa Frankenstein is the kind of film that works because its premise is so out there and over the top. And yet, looking back, it feels like the film was almost holding itself back, when it should have gone all the way. This doesn’t stop the film from being enjoyable, but it does feel like it could’ve been better.
Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse absolutely kill it (no pun intended) as Lisa and the Creature. Watching Lisa blossom into herself while the Creature slowly comes together (pun fully intended) is the highlight of the film. Anyone who has ever aspired to be that “spooky goth girl” but never had the guts to go for it will love what Lisa becomes in the latter half of the film.
Another detail that Lisa Frankenstein absolutely nails is the entire ’80s feel of the movie. Some movies purport to be set in a certain decade but don’t really feel like it. Lisa Frankenstein replicates every detail of that bedazzled era right down to the pastel walls and pastel carpeting in Lisa’s house.
Lisa Frankenstein definitely appeals to a certain type of audience, and while it doesn’t go as far as it could’ve, it’s still worth checking out. This is a solid debut from Zelda Williams and I for one am excited to see what she comes up with next.
