The work of the mother of science fiction, Mary Shelley, seems to be all the rage these days as multiple studios begin development on their own takes on the one and only ‘Frankenstein’. Yes, directors like Guillermo Del Toro and Maggie Gyllenhaal may have their own adaptions in the pipeline, but those aren’t the ones we’re talking about. Beating them to the punch is Zelda Williams and writer of Jennifer’s Body, Diablo Cody. Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse star in Lisa Frankenstein – a campy, yet wild, new take on the classic that shines with its two leads but never quite lives up to its potential.
What’s Taking So Long
For me, one of the biggest issues with the film is that it just feels like it’s taking a little too long to really get going. The film kicks off by giving a backstory to how Lisa, following the murder of her mother, has ended up in a new home with a new stepmother and sister, just struggling to fit into her new life. At first it feels like the film was going to jump right into the gruesome guts of the story, but it takes a bit of a detour in order to really nail down Lisa’s role as an outcast.
It isn’t until the film really finds its footing as a zany and outlandish horror comedy that things really start to get great, most of which feels achieved by Newton who really brings to life this extravagant Lydia Deetz energy.
One of the best choices made for this movie was setting it in the ’80s – it really revels in the weirdness of those times and the films that it produced. Setting it in modern day just would not have worked; it’s the pop culture and norms of the times that really help the movie work and feels as if it’s an ode to the decade and the famous outcasts its films produced.
A Couple Killer Leading Ladies
Obviously the star of the show here is Ms. Lisa Swallows herself, played by the wonderful Kathryn Newton. The actress is making quite the name for herself in the horror genre, with films like Freaky, Lisa Frankenstein, and the upcoming Abigail, showing the real makings of scream queen. Newton is of course the standout here; whenever she’s on screen she crushes it with her awkward yet persistent performance of a goth girl just finding her way in the world, and more importantly, true love. It’s when the film finally unshackles The Cure fan within her that she truly shines as she lives out her very own dark, twisted fantasy of love and death.
Liza Soberano delivers a charming and fun performance as Lisa’s over-eager and incredibly popular cheerleader stepsister Taffy. Taffy is probably the only person in Lisa’s life that genuinely loves and cares for her and is probably the person that Lisa hurts the most. She’s such a supporting presence in Lisa’s life, even if some of her advice can be a bit sharper than others, she just wants to help her fit in and for them to feel like real sisters.
He’s Weird, He’s A Weirdo
We’re a long way from Riverdale, and Jughead has taken his weirdness to a whole new level. Cole Sprouse makes his big screen return following the seven season run of the series. Here however he’s feeling the highs and lows of a whole new role, as “The Creature”. Never properly given a name, Sprouse brings to life a romantic monster who longs to be fully human again. Through a series of grunts and groans, Cole Sprouse delivers a fun performance. It’s a role that comes with a lot of setbacks and forces an actor to rely a lot on their face and he did a pretty great job.
This was also a role that brought a lot of physicality with it. Throughout the film we see this “monster” slowly become more and more human, with Sprouse making subtle changes to his movements and demeanor to show the slow progression of his revival.
Live Up To Your Full Potential
One thing I didn’t realize going into this film is that it was not rated R, even though I was prompted with a PG-13 content warning upon purchasing the ticket. As stated previously, this never feels like it lives up to its full potential. It’s not a bad movie whatsoever but it just could’ve been even better had they given it an R-rating.
Many of the film’s most gruesome moments feel a bit undercut when it remembers it has to abide by a PG-13 rating. The film wants you to believe it is this edgy, bold new take on a classic and it has the makings of that for sure, but anytime it tries to seize that vibe, it feels like your parents just covered your eyes.
It’s understandable to think that an R-rated version of this might just be too hard to market to audiences, but it isn’t like this is a totally originally idea. Even if the concept doesn’t land at first, it doesn’t mean it wont find its audience. Diablo Cody of all people would know that as the writer of probably one of the biggest cult hits, Jennifer’s Body – a movie that was met with less-than-positive reviews at its release, but has really garnered a lot of love in recent years.
Two Damn Good Duos
While Newton and Sprouse may be killing it on screen, behind the camera writer Diablo Cody and first-time director Zelda Williams make for a fantastic duo. This being Williams’ first directing gig would probably shock some as she feels like a total natural here with a great style.
While some plot-related writing may be a bit of an issue early on, Cody still knows how to write some killer dialogue for her characters – always finding a way to make the subtlest of jabs and most clever comments. I would love to see these two work together again, maybe on a sequel to another one of Cody’s films.
‘Lisa Frankenstein’ – Final Thoughts
While its PG-13 rating and slow start may hold the film back, Lisa Frankenstein is still a fun flick about fitting in and breaking through societal standards that feels like a romp through the dark and twisted fantasy of an iconic ’80s outcast. Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, and Liza Soberano deliver awesome performances that make such lovable presences onscreen.
Lisa Frankenstein is now playing in theaters. Check out the trailer below:
