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Directed by Zelda Williams and written by Diablo Cody, LISA FRANKENSTEIN is a charming 80s-set rom-com with a bloodsoaked premise.
Still recovering from the shock of seeing her mother murdered, outcast teen Lisa (Kathryn Newton) struggles to find her place at a new school and in her new family. Constantly at odds with her bitchy stepmom (Carla Gugino) and unable to connect with her popular cheerleader step-sister, Lisa finds comfort in the local – supposedly haunted – cemetery and becomes obsessed with the grave of a teen boy from the Victorian era.
One night a mysterious green-glowing thunderstorm resurrects Lisa’s dead crush, resulting in the grossest meet cute ever, and sending the duo on a hilarious coming-of-age journey in search of spare body parts in order to make The Creature (Cole Sprouse) whole and happy once again.
I’m not entirely sure how a film that features vomit, fountains of blood, and a severed penis (!!!) ends up being as sweet as this one is – but yeah, it GOT me. Right in the teen girl romantic feels. Part of this is the brilliant way the 1980s vibe comes across on screen. Since I was 17 in 1989 and also felt very “apart” from my peers, identifying with Lisa was very, very easy and familiar.
Zelda also absolutely nailed the soundtrack, and I can’t express how much I loved the REO Speedwagon sing-along enough. And the production design is insane! I particularly loved the black and white old-Hollywood inspired dream sequence, and you can tell so much care was put into every detail of each scene. And THE COSTUMES! I mean. I really enjoyed this funny, perfectly cast, quirky little horror film.
LISA FRANKENSTEIN is now available to own as a Collector’s Edition with never-before-seen bonus content on Digital, and is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on April 9, 2024, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.
Bonus material includes a gag reel, deleted scenes, and short featurettes that give a behind-the-scenes look at Diablo Cody’s inspiration behind the film and Lisa’s relationship with Creature, plus a feature commentary by director Zelda Williams. The featurettes and commentary are great, and all confirmed my feelings about everyone having the most fun making this film.
FULL LIST OF BONUS FEATURES on BLU-RAY AND DVD:
- DELETED SCENES
- GAG REEL
- RESURRECTING THE 1980’s – Set in 1989, LISA FRANKENSTEIN is a loving tribute to the wacky, tacky, yet totally awesome 80s. Every department of production embraced the stylized world Diablo Cody created in her script and brought their A-game to making this colorful world a reality.
- AN ELECTRIC CONNECTION – While it’s no easy feat to turn a 19th century dead guy into the perfect boyfriend, this piece explores Lisa and her charming Creature and what makes their relationship work. Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, and filmmakers explore how Lisa and Creature really need each other to truly thrive, why Creature is the “perfect man,” and Lisa’s choice at the end of the film.
- A DARK COMEDY DUO – Well-known for her ability to subvert genres, Diablo Cody delves into the inspiration behind LISA FRANKENSTEIN, what made her want to give the Frankenstein story a youthful, modern twist full of both horror and hilarity, and why Zelda Williams was the perfect choice to bring her story to life.
- FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR ZELDA WILLIAMS
I Love Splatter! 