It's horror, its teen comedy its nostalgia all wrapped up in a perfect package appealing to the future Tim Burton's and Robert Smith's of the world. Especially if they are girls.

I watched this movie and I'm strange enough to understand where Lisa Frankenstein is coming from but there is a refreshing female gauze that covers the film nicely. I mean, I feel like I would have missed something watching this at home instead of with a theatre filled with women who laughed out loud to situations I just found passingly amusing. I thought this movie was great and thought it was great that the movie was not directed towards me.

Lisa Frankenstein is for those strange kids in high school but especially if you are that weird girl.

My wife and I attended a screening of Lisa Frankenstein (2024) this evening. The storyline follows a young lady whose mother was recently killed by an ax murderer. Her father remarries, and they move to a new home with her new mom and stepsister. A nearby haunted graveyard becomes her fascination, especially a young man's tombstone. One day, her prayer and lightening revive him, but he needs new body parts.

Directed by Zelda Williams in her major motion picture debut, the film stars Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Cole Sprouse (Riverdale), Liza Soberano (Trese), Carla Gugino (The Fall of the House of Usher), and Joe Chrest (Stranger Things).

The film is unfortunately uneven and has a solid beginning reminiscent of Edward Scissorhands, capturing an early Tim Burton feel with its 1989 setting. The attire, soundtrack, sets, and cinematography contribute to this atmosphere. The opening credits' animation and creative sets are praiseworthy, and the dialogue exudes cleverness with a perfect dark comedy feel. While horror elements and kills are hit or miss, the film showcases elite slow-motion blood splatter (making me wonder why more films don't leverage that special effect). However, certain scenes, like the awkward backing away and police interrogation, feel forced and out of place. The hunched-over walk scenes also detract from the overall tone. The ending, however, is a positive note.

In conclusion, Lisa Frankenstein has worthwhile elements but falls short of its potential. I would score this a 5/10 but recommend watching it once. This does have a target audience that will love it.

Low budget that doesn't feel cheesy. Kinda stylish, rocking late '80s Madonna fashion, schmaltzy arena rock, and wink-wink nudge-nudge self-awareness. It has fun little details like every time the creature cycles through the electricity he becomes a little more human, and sheds a bug or a worm, usually to hysterical effect. Excellent performances from the stars (him entirely non-verbal until the very last poetic scene, and her a little two verbal until, again, the final poetic scene). There are bits remeniscent of Kathleen Turner's Serial Mom and Jerry Stiller in Hairspray. It's over the top, a little bit tacky, and so much fun.