Lisa Frankenstein Review: An 80s Macabre Mess!

The classic movie monsters such as Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy, Frankenstein and more are so beloved across a number of mediums, especially film. It seems no matter the time period, these monsters find a way into studio films because of their easy inclusivity into scripts because of the audience’s prior knowledge of them. The story of Frankenstein, although it has had a number of adaptations written and directed by men, goes down in history as one of the greatest works by a female writer, Mary Shelley, having published the book in 1818.

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As a result, a modern adaptation with a fresh spin written by Diablo Cody and directed by newcomer Zelda WIlliams seems perfect, having two women behind such a notable story. With 80s flair and a dark neon production design, Lisa Frankenstein has the pieces to create a modern classic, if William and Cody were just able to put it all together rather than leaving it a jumbled mess.

Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) is a misunderstood teenager, not in the normal sense, more because her mother was brutally murdered when she was young by a home intruder and her classmates seem to not be able to relate. As a result, Lisa spends a lot of time alone, writing poems in the town’s nearby graveyard dreaming of being with one of the young men she visits in the cemetery daily (Cole Sprouse).

When lighting strikes the young man’s grave and he is re-animated, Lisa and her new undead boyfriend must navigate life, love, and ultimately Lisa’s greatest wish, death. What seemed on the surface to be a bizarre 80s take on Frankenstein was a tonal mismatch on Z. Williams’ directing and Diablo Cody’s writing.

It seemed like it wanted to pay tribute to the classic monster movie genre while also being a modern teen comedy with amusing one liners but the film never ventured fully into either, leaving the film feeling unfinished and choppy. The cinematography and production design was pleasing to the eye but was dragged down heavily by the story that did not match its energy.

The comedic elements did not hit the way they should have. The dialogue tried to be matter of fact and a little dry, which didn’t bode well with the presence of its lead actress Kathryn Newton. Newton has a fantastic stage presence and without a doubt would have taken on a script with wit and edge but it left the actress with lines that underutilized her charisma.

Lisa’s character was a small box for Newton’s high presence to fit into and it did a huge disservice to her. Lisa Frankenstein was more of a chuckle here and there, if ever, when it had the potential to push the boundaries of teen horror, the way Cody’s film Jennifer’s Body was able to do.

The film’s main focus is how Lisa begins to change and blossom just as an undead boy comes into her life. As a result, a majority of the film banks on the relationship between the two teenagers, which was very limited. Lisa makes it known the second The Creature breaks into her home that she didn’t mean she wanted to be with HIM but wanted to be dead LIKE him. Using him to be able to accomplish her goal of death seems more realistic but the film continues to push her new found love for him when the relationship just isn’t pieced together enough to make us yearn for their love to last.

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In fact, Cole Sprouse’s character is utilized minimally during the course of the film, begging the question as to whether it would have been a better movie if Diablo Cody didn’t write a Frankenstein movie and just created an 80s goth macabre movie starring Kathryn Newton. Regardless, Lisa Frankenstein had all the ingredients to be a fun and zany 80s monster/comedy but was unable to utilize its best features.

‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Rating – 1.5/5

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