Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

A horrible movie written by an empathetically void and morally bankrupt sociopath. In the beginning quirky with a torrent of jokes that all fall completely flat. Lighting done by what must be a blind diversity hire, as we almost can't see what's going on 90% of the time. Then, our supposed protagonist becomes a psychopathic serial murderer, which apparently is not only okay, but something to laugh about and root for. Anyone crosses Lisa the slightest, they're fair game for being murdered and then mocked and their death celebrated with laughs and dancing. I haven't seen anything this morally decrepit since Natural Born Killers, but that movie was an ironic critique of pop culture and the media's obsession with death and violence. This "movie" just plainly celebrates the same psychopathic behavior unironically and unapologetically. Ew. That this filth can be produced today without someone not insane stopping it along the way worries me. I'd rather have my children watch The Texas Chainsaw Massacre than this insane on-screen feces.

"Lisa" (Kathryn Newton) is a bit of a loner who lives in one of those second families where her rather feeble dad (Joe Chrest) has married the rather vain and odious "Janet" (Carla Gugino) who has a friendly daughter "Taffy" (Liza Soberano). At school, she has taken a shine to floppy-haired heart-throb "Michael" (Henry Einkenberry) and he seems to be a little interested too. Might romance blossom? Suddenly a lightening strike changes everything. The long-dead occupant of a grave she habitually sits beside when she is reading (Cole Sprouse) is electronically reinvigorated and finds his way into her home, her wardrobe and now, as with "ET", she has her own secret creature in the closet. Thing is, there are bits of her new friend missing - his ear, his tongue, his hand (that's not a comprehensive list!) - so the ensuing escapades mix science with comedy and some good old doses of vengeance as they try to restore him to his former, piano playing, glory. It could have been much more fun, this, if it had committed to the audience one way or the other. It's clearly gone for a wide appeal and so compromised on the darkness and adult nature of the humour. Many of the scenarios - especially at the the rather brutal and eye-watering conclusion, could have worked so much better had Zelda Williams aimed the movie more at those who could appreciate the dark comedy rather than dilute it down to something akin to a frat-comedy. It's better than I was expecting, and Newton does fine as the film progresses, it's just a shame it didn't really know were to go or who it was for.

Horror-Comedy (not the opposite) directed by Zelda Willians in her full feature film, and written by Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer's Body) that tells the story of a grief stricken teenager who had her mother slaughtered, and lives now with an abusive mother-in-law and a lovely sister-in-law. Kathryn Newton as Lisa is perfect for her role. Stigmatized by her past and actions the is the black swan of the school, and passes a lot of time in a old cemetery (watch the credits animation closely) of the 19th century on a tomb of another teenager that died with a green lighting into 1837. The movie emulates the 80's teenage romance-comedies (it passes in 89), in a light way till a certain previsible point - for sure it isn't as sugary as you may think to those who wonder. And have an unsuspected ending. I think it was worth for some laughs on a weekend night - I score it 6,6 out of 10,0 / B for the fun.