Lisa Frankenstein

I liked this movie just fine.

It's a dark comedy and a good watch just before the Halloween holiday.

A nice alternative to anything super dark or scary that you may also be viewing as the days add up to trick or treat time.

Kathryn Newton as the title character is a bold and fiery actress who is quickly rising as maybe her generation's greatest.

Sydney Sweeney may be getting all the hype but Newton's making the interesting choices among her peers.

I just saw and reviewed the excellent Freaky with Newton and Vince Vaughn for the above titled list that I have composed.

The knock on this movie written by a fave, Diablo Cody, for me is that it just tries to hard to be all 80's, and in doing so, drops the ball in complete accuracy I was in high school in the late 80's and a senior in 1989 and I can tell you for certain people weren't dressing like Lucky Star Madonna at that time.

There are other props and product placements but other than that, it's your typical kid with a monster movie.

And that's all right for this Halloween.

I saw Lisa Frankenstein early as part of AMC's Screen Unseen. I was already planning on watching it so I was happy with the selection.

It's a charming movie with a fun and different performance by lead actress Kathryn Newton. I like the visual style, especially with the outfits. There are a few memorable moments within an overall enjoyable story.

Why not a higher score? I don't really have any dislikes. Everything in the movie is above average, but no single aspect excels. It's pretty funny but not hilarious. The horror elements are fun but very mild. I was somewhat engaged and invested but not fully locked in or excited.

In the end, I had a good time with this movie as a one-time viewing. I think most people will find it enjoyable with a small group of people who love it.

(1 viewing, early screening Screen Unseen 2/5/2024)

Essentially a blind watch, I must say I surprisingly enjoyed this film.

Lisa Frankenstein was surprisingly enjoyable. It was completely ridiculous and completely stupid, but I found its quirkiness oddly endearing and sweet.

Great performances from the supporting cast and Lisa played fantastically by the beautifully talented Kathryn Newton. She is quickly becoming a favorite actress of mine.

Overall, while I most certainly enjoyed the film, there were certain elements that didn't completely work for me that I'm sure would work for others.

Charming, endearing, and darkly humorous makes Lisa Frankenstein a worthwhile watch that I, for one, did not see myself enjoying.

PS. Still a better love story than Twilight.

IMDb: 6/10 Letterboxd: 3/5

Watched in Theaters.

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.

This is a must-see movie in the theater and I will watch this more than once. Appropriately rated PG-13 and not bad for most kids that can watch that rating. What they were able to do on the shoestring budget of 13 million is just absolutely outstanding to me. This is also the directorial debut of Robin Williams's daughter Zelda. You can tell she's done her research on multiple genres from the '80s and has made a unique look but also adding to the feel of 1989. The script is pretty decent but the concept and art and direction are fantastic! I have seen 15 new movies in 2024 and this is definitely my favorite.