With ’80s camp, gothic fashion, and a classic premise with a twist… Lisa Frankenstein is honestly the worst movie of 2024. Every single thing it brings to the table flops like it was a fish, and was especially disappointing considering it was made by Academy Award winning writer, Diablo Cody.
Lisa Frankenstein is a movie that’s supposed to be a 1980s themed horror comedy twist on the Mary Shelley classic Frankenstein. Our Frankenstein stand-in is named Lisa Swallows, played by Kathryn Newton, who experiences a comedic romance with The Creature, played by Cole Sprouse.
First, the humor and even the script as a whole, continues to fall flat. The only funny joke in that movie was the first joke made in relation to a back massager, but after that, it just wasn’t funny. With the framing of the scenes, the viewer can tell that director Zelda Williams had attempted to put more energy into the film but the script was just such a drag.
Time and time again, there had been so many good ideas that just didn’t go anywhere. They were all underused, like the tanning bed or even an entire main romance between The Creature and Lisa herself. Despite a ‘budding’ romance, Lisa never once seemed to love or really care for the monster until the end when he chops off someone’s body part for her. There were so many missed opportunities for chemistry, interesting dynamics, development or anything to redeem this movie. The Creature attempting to dress Lisa like his past love? Incredible idea! His qualms with his past lover and his now “lover” are never brought up again. Even the one or two moments that could have developed them at all. They’re flatter than a certain boy named Stanley.
Despite being someone we’re meant to root for, Lisa is arguably the worst character. She was unlikeable pretty much the entire film. She is grossly underdeveloped and only got worse as the movie went on. Everything almost interesting about her is never used. Even the fact her mom is killed by an ax murderer is used once for a joke that doesn’t land and then is never ever brought up again, just like the mirror she broke, and everything else in this movie. Never once did I ever root for her, which is upsetting because I really wanted to.
Another thing that’s underused and underdeveloped is every character that is murdered. The Stepmom, played by Carla Gunigo, was an insufferable narcissist, but even her murder couldn’t spark any interest, or anything other than minor distaste for her character. In fact, her character doesn’t even make the audience feel bad for Lisa; she makes you feel bad for Lisa’s stepsister, Taffy, played by Liza Soberano. Lisa wasn’t even useful in the Stepmother’s murder, and even though I like the idea of it being a fit of protective rage by The Creature, played by Cole Sprouse. Lisa couldn’t even be the one to think of harvesting her ear.
In the movie, The Creature is resurrected without a few body parts. Throughout the movie there are murders that take place to harvest body parts so The Creature can be whole again. Great idea. But again, they fall flat because of how it was mishandled.
In fact, the only two characters I liked were Taffy and The Creature, and they were the only ones with any real redeeming qualities. Taffy was a sweet sister who did it all for Lisa, who Lisa honestly treats quite terribly throughout the film. Sprouse and Soberano absolutely killed their roles. They really shine in this dim, dark, and dank movie. Sprouse’s acting is more alive than any of the writing in this movie and Soberano sold Taffy as incredibly loveable even at her worst moments.
However, the ending is just terrible. It really solidifies Lisa as a bad character and a terrible person, and left the house almost as much of a burning wreck that is this movie. She escapes every consequence and abandons everything for a guy she only incredibly superficial likes, and the only thing even remotely interesting ever explored with her character happens in a three second scene at the very end of the movie. She doesn’t even talk!
Everything about this movie left me, just not really feeling anything but disappointment. However, the thing that left me utterly upset and confused is how it butchers the original Frankenstein. Lisa isn’t even the one to bring The Creature to life; his tombstone is struck by lightning. Lisa has absolutely no part in it. In fact, she has almost no real part in anything other than being insufferable. She’s not even an insane maniac like the original Frankenstein. Go girl, give us nothing!
Even the themes in this movie falls flat and feels like an afterthought, and the attempt to mix genres just melts at the seams. This will never be a cult classic. In fact, it’s not even a classic. Never will it ever come close to Cody’s previous horror comedy work, Jennifer’s Body. This movie isn’t even bad enough to be good – it’s just bad.
