Lisa Frankenstein (2024) User Reviews

If I can predict a cult classic, I predict this one.

[subxerogravity · 7/10 · 10 February 2024]

It's horror, its teen comedy its nostalgia all wrapped up in a perfect package appealing to the future Tim Burton's and Robert Smith's of the world. Especially if they are girls.

I watched this movie and I'm strange enough to understand where Lisa Frankenstein is coming from but there is a refreshing female gauze that covers the film nicely. I mean, I feel like I would have missed something watching this at home instead of with a theatre filled with women who laughed out loud to situations I just found passingly amusing. I thought this movie was great and thought it was great that the movie was not directed towards me.

Lisa Frankenstein is for those strange kids in high school but especially if you are that weird girl.

Charming

[FeastMode · 6/10 · 7 February 2024]

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)

And then Fuddruckers...

[calypsokidd · 6/10 · 9 February 2024]

Lisa Frankenstein is one of those films that I don't like as much as I had hoped I would upon the first viewing, but I like it more and more every time that I see it. In that respect it is similar to Beetlejuice for me personally. A totally campy film with a lot of things that don't make sense or aren't fully explained; it feels like there are some deleted scenes that should have been left in, but maybe they were concerned about the film running too long and kept it short and simple.

Kathryn Newton gives an excellent performance as the main character, and her dad reminds me so much of the dad in Coraline.

It's simply entertaining dark humor in a teen angst storyline! I totally recommend it for a fun night out.

This Should Have Been R-Rated

[kjproulx · 6/10 · 9 February 2024]

This is one of the oddest experiences I've had at the movies in a while. Lisa Frankenstein is a film where the idea seemed fun, the people involved have made things I've enjoyed in the past, and the cast seemed to be having a great time, so what went wrong for me? Well, I think it all comes down to the fact that this movie is trying to be accessible to a wide age spectrum, but that made the movie lose a bit of its charm. This is easily a script that should've taken it one step further and been rated R. Many films have done similar premises to this one in the past, and while I won't say they were all better in concept, the final products say otherwise. Let me explain myself.

Taking place in 1989, Lisa (Kathryn Newton), a teenager with a few questionable traits, wishes to be with someone who is dead and she has never met. His corpse is reanimated after she wishes upon his grave and a mysterious storm hits. From here, even though he can't speak, they become close and kind of psychotic. This very quickly becomes a twisted and messed up movie, but under the PG-13 banner, it just felt watered down. There are multiple instances when limbs are chopped off or people are murdered, and while it all is done in the spirit of having a good, weird time at the movies, it lacks the visuals of everything that was going on.

Kathryn Newton is quite enjoyable as Lisa and I wish the film had better dialogue for her because even though there is some clever writing and she made me laugh quite often, she is a much darker character than the PG-13 rating allowed her to be. Cole Sprouse (in my opinion) has honestly never been better though. He has no lines, but that made for some great physical acting. For a character without dialogue, he held his own against Newton here. Carla Gugino plays Lisa's stepmother and where that story leads is easily the highlight of the film, but again, every great idea this film had just felt watered down. I feel like a broken record talking about this one simply because I think this had all the bones of a great, fun, weird movie. There is also one scene in particular where I was laughing because I couldn't believe what I was watching, but the movie couldn't go far enough to show it actually happening. That was the majority of my experience here, even though the film was clever enough to be mildly enjoyable as it is.

Look, Zelda Williams does a solid job at directing here, Diablo Cody's script is sharp, but does add the extra flare that was needed, I liked every performance, and it absolutely felt like it was from the '80s/'90s. Everyone did a very solid job bringing this screenplay to life. Everything about this movie from the set design to the bright, visual aesthetic all worked for me and should be commended, I just can't wrap my head around why this one wasn't rated R, especially considering certain things that happen or are implied here. It's a head-scratcher for me. I still had a good time though and I feel that the crowd that will like this one the most are teenagers in high school who get the humour. Otherwise, it's okay, but it had so much potential.

Not what I expected

[nscoby93 · 6/10 · 15 February 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.

Heathers meets Tim Burton

[dchristopherbrown · 7/10 · 7 February 2024]

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.

Lisa Frankenstein has worthwhile elements but falls short of its potential. This does have a target audience that wil

[kevin_robbins · 5/10 · 9 February 2024]

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.

The love child of John Waters and Tim Burton

[mjanelle-24974 · 9/10 · 10 February 2024]

Low budget that doesn't feel cheesy. Kinda stylish, rocking late '80s Madonna fashion, schmaltzy arena rock, and wink-wink nudge-nudge self-awareness. It has fun little details like every time the creature cycles through the electricity he becomes a little more human, and sheds a bug or a worm, usually to hysterical effect. Excellent performances from the stars (him entirely non-verbal until the very last poetic scene, and her a little two verbal until, again, the final poetic scene). There are bits remeniscent of Kathleen Turner's Serial Mom and Jerry Stiller in Hairspray. It's over the top, a little bit tacky, and so much fun.

80s and Sweeney Todd vibes and I love it

[arvinjanasis · 7/10 · 7 February 2024]

"They say 'Time heals wounds' but actually, 'Time is the wound.'"

In the year 1989, one's life is about to change forever because of a storm. This is a strange take on Frankenstein's story with something special about it. A film that is entertaining enough and if you do love the 80s, that "Sweeney Todd" vibes, if you love Kathryn Newton, Jughead Jones / Cole Sprouse, this film is for you. Kudos to Liza Soberano's first appearance in a Hollywood film. She did an amazing job and deserves to have more.

Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton did deliver a good performance here too.

A film that I could recommend watching. It was fun to watch!

Loved that they still used When in Rome's The Promise in the film (not just in the trailer).

This had so much potential! But it is so bad!!

[hachimitsusara · 3/10 · 15 February 2024]

I am so frustrated!! I never leave reviews but I had to for this one. I expected this to be a mix of Warm Bodies and Reinfield. This was not and it makes me so frustrated of the missed potential.

I think every time I think about this movie, I remove one star. It looked so promising! The premise, the trailer, Cole, Gothic horror, Victorian and 80s themes... But it just fails so badly, the jokes of poor taste, the plot, the writing, the morality... the characters' actions don't make sense most of the time...other reviews here explain it better but it was just a mess. I went to watch in on a Tuesday, so tickets were about 4$, I used my points and I ended up paying 0.40$. I want those 0.40 cents back!!! What a waste of time. I wanted to leave so many times during the movie. I should have left. I am giving 3 stars only because the acting was good (mostly), the sets and color palette also. The beginning animated sequence was good. Some cinematography was also good. It's mostly the plot that was bad and unfortunately that is really important in a movie... I sigh every time I think about how bad it is and how good it could have been...

Anyways, please don't watch this. Go watch Warm Bodies or Reinfield instead.

Weird and Fun

[gabriel_almeidas · 8/10 · 7 February 2024]

Zelda made a great debut with this film, the movie doesn't promise the best plot, acting or even 80s music. But this movie brings what we miss the most in movies today, FUN. It's just straight up weird, in a good way. It's been awhile since a movie surprised me this way when promised nothing based off the trailers. Go watch it and have a good time. I do recommend watching in theatres with a packed room, because the public does make a difference in the experience.

Also if you watched the trailers don't expect horror, it's way more comedy than I expected. Of course there's some gory parts but it's a pg-13 film so don't expect heavy stuff.

A bizarre yet enjoyable mix of horror, romance and comedy.

[vinayaksrivastava-20682 · 6/10 · 7 March 2024]

Lisa Frankenstein, directed by Zelda Williams, is colourful, well-executed amalgamation of horror and comedy that is certain to garner a cult following in the years to come, though occasionally it feels like a missed opportunity.

The eye-catching direction is undoubtedly my favourite aspect of the film. Williams' vision looks and feels distinctly unique, with colourful frames that burst onto the screen, beautiful costume designs and gorgeous cinematography. But beyond crafting a visually appealing film, Williams has the ability to depict eccentric characters that unapologetically and facetiously commit bizarre and unsettling actions.

Kathryn Newton delivers a strong performance as Lisa, skillfully portraying a mentally complex character while providing humour in a way that seems plausible and tangible. Liza Soberano and Cole Sprouse give commendable performances too.

Where the film falters for me, is when it attempts to cram an absurdly large number of subplots and themes into its brief runtime, to the point that, by the time the credits roll, I wasn't quite sure what the central theme or story of the movie was. Also, the film plays it a little safe with the disturbing and gory scenes, likely due to its PG-13 rating. It could've been more effective had they fully embraced the absurdity.

Overall, Lisa Frankenstein is a wild good-time and an effective throwback to 80s horror comedies, but certainly has room for improvement.

*SPOILERS* Hoping for something akin to Warm Bodies...not even close

[hawksanddawgs · 1/10 · 25 February 2024]

I had no idea what my wife was getting me into but she has sat through many movies with me that weren't her favorites so I was game. I never watched the preview but her description of the movie made me think of Warm Bodies - not a great movie but entertaining and quirky. This movie falls flat on all attempts to entertain. The references used to create a 1980's vibe (I attended high school in the 80's) were all wrong. This movie reminded me of the comments my English teacher made when he read one of my creative writing papers, the one where I took someone else's idea and tried to make it my own: "this story sounds like someone trying to write what they don't know." Terrible writing, terrible acting (especially by the main character, terrible story and character development. I just didn't understand how the main character went from being a sweet girl with a tragic experience to a murderer with no conscience within such a short period of time. I know the movie is fantastical, but please attempt to make it somewhat believable so I can enjoy watching the movie without thinking how poorly it was made. Oh, and leave the flying junk shots and sewing them onto living corpses for rated-R movies please.

Dead good, it's fun in a dark way

[donmurray29 · 7/10 · 6 March 2024]

Giving this an 7/10 rating

Darkly comic horror from writer Diablo Cody, up to more cray nonsense as usual, but in the undead horror and sort of slasher genre, this time. Also not directing this, which is something new, so it's left of Zelda Williams who gets the most out of the actors and atmosphere of the times it's set in.

Kathryn Newton is carving out a good career with these scare films, she's just so good, and clearly loves it, she's in full swing as the misunderstood, Lisa. Liza Soberano is great and super loopy but kind as Taffy. Cole Sprouse, plays the undead who is up to some bloody fun. He is the one who has to do a lot of work in his role. Joe Chrest is a familiar face, but it's Carla Gugino who has fun, both are having a blast.

You have throw sanity out the window in this film, and get ready for some down right crazy time, it starts of slow, but it does get there, again the humour is either you like it or not, this is macabre and campy, it knows it, another different film out now.

Life after death....

[garethwooduk · 7/10 · 19 March 2024]

When I read the review I was locked in, anything with a touch of gothic humour and set in the 1980s is the perfect antidote!

This really reminded me of a mixture of 80s classic 'Weird Science' and 1990 classic 'Edward Scissorhands' it culminates somewhere in between...

The relationship between Kelly, and her 'creature' no plot spoilers is very sweet, a story that questions where we belong in society and wanting to feel loved.

The touches of gore and the creature needing new 'body parts' to be fully restored from his decaying 19th century dead body was brilliant, the humour was really good with a decent supporting cast.

An easy watch and enjoyed!

A wild, fun, and quirky time

[PerryAtTheMovies · 7/10 · 14 February 2024]

6.8/10 (Would Recommend)

If you have someone that can enjoy a kind of cheesy, a little romantic, and slightly gruesome romcom horror movie then "Lisa Frankenstein" may be for you. The film is nonchalant when it comes to its stabby stab scenes. You're left with this "oh, okay... that happened".

There's some good moments that threw me for a loop, but that was part of the charm. Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse have really good chemistry together and both bring unique, fun charm to their roles. Cole showed a bit of his acting range by bringing good emotion to his role by not speaking a single word .

I'm probably one of the least fashionable people you will ever meet so take this with a grain of salt. I loved the wardrobe selection for Kathryn Newton and the movement between how we meet her to what she becomes is perfectly worked into the film.

I didn't find this film to be terrible, but it just wasn't super strong in parts. It gets distracting when the same extra very obviously passes through the same scene twice. Some of the camera shots were a little iffy when it came to speaking parts.

Overall, this won't be every one's type of film, but it's nice to have been with someone who did enjoy it as well. It was nice to be a little surprised by how not so fluffy the film appeared to be. It's fun, kind of gruesome, a little dirty on the romance, but it all works out in the end.

That's all for now. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Until next time.... Enjoy the show!

Terrible

[aracasm · 1/10 · 27 February 2024]

There isn't a single positive for this mess of a movie. Everything about it is cheap and bad. I'm sure the positive ratings are fake as only a small child could find this garbage entertaining. The story was always going to be a bit of a stretch but the execution is awful. This was. Clearly made on a very low budget but even so that's not an excuse for knocking out this drivel. The dialogue is badly written and characters are one note and delivered with lazy performances. I had high hopes for this but it's worse than I could have imagined. I would advise anyone thinking of renting/viewing this tripe to think again - unless it's for young kids then go for it.

Felt it becoming my new fav movie while it was still going...

[JK-WhatsUpWeirdoPodcast · 10/10 · 8 February 2024]

Cute, Heartfelt, Candy-colored, and Twisted. When I tell you this movie had my WHOLE HEART from the title screen alone ?? -sobs- It's Heathers and Edward Scissorhands and campy and hilarious but also unique and its own thing, with hard nods to A Trip To The Moon, and NOTTING HILL. I EXPLODED.

And I was already a fan from Freaky but now I'm just a full on Kathryn Newton spazz, she gives the quirkiest, silliest, most endearing performance. And Cole Sprouse gave a really lovely, nuanced performance too. Liza Soberano (Taffy) was hilarious too, everyone was just really perfect.

The cuteness of this movie actually unalived me and now I need a tanning bed. The End.

Far too uneven to live up to its potential.

[RMurray847 · 6/10 · 8 February 2024]

I'm not going to lie...LISA FRANKENSTEIN was disappointing. Despite a few clever twists and a couple of worthwhile performances, it feels somehow lazy and disjointed. This is a film that wants to walk a tightrope between comedy and horror, but to complicate things, the comedy part of the tightrope is made up of satire and rom-com, and the horror side wants to be "R-rated" (some R-rated body part severing) with a "PG" vibe. I would have hoped writer Diablo Cody might have pulled it off, but it was probably almost too much to ask.

Lisa is a high-schooler who is living with her dad and step-mom and step-sister a couple of years after she witnessed her mother being brutally murdered by an axe-wielding home invader (and almost succumbing herself). This trauma has turned her (apparently...she may have already been this way) into a kind of proto-goth (the film takes place in the late '80s) who would rather hang out at the nearby abandoned cemetery than do any "normal" high school things. This character is pretty insufferable, despite her tragic background, because we're not asked to really feel anything for her. It's fortunate that the extremely affable Kathryn Newton (so good in FREAKY) is playing Lisa...she makes the character almost convincing. The character we actually root for the most is the step-sister, Taffy, a popular cheerleader who actually loves her step-sister and wants to be her friend and help her...genuinely. It's such a shock to see the cliché turned on its head, we have to root for this character, who is very agreeably played by Liza Soberano.

One night, an electric storm brings one of the old corpses in the cemetery to life. Luckily for this creature (known in the credits as "The Creature") finds his way to Lisa, who is immediately enamored of this man. He's silent, sorta dead and perhaps handsome underneath his decay. Turns out, he can be revitalized a bit at a time by spending a few minutes in a sparking, defective tanning bed (another amusing conceit of Cody's). He's missing a few body parts, but that's nothing that Lisa and her new friend can't take care of by stealing parts off folks they've killed.

Where should our loyalties lie while watching the film? We feel a little sorry for The Creature, but the longer he's around, the clearer it is he doesn't really have any noble qualities. Lisa is just insane. The teens in the high school are paper-thin stereotypes. The hunk Lisa longs for is an uninteresting cypher. Lisa's dad is a clueless idiot (this character is so poorly conceived that I almost have to applaud the creators of the film...in a world where thousands of characters are hard to believe, LISA FRANKENSTEIN has come up with a "dad of a troubled teen" who truly behaves with zero believability and who apparently literally has no motivation for existing). And the step-mother is an updated "wicked" character, but as played by Carla Gugino, is so over-the-top awful and stupid that it beggars belief that she could have a child like Taffy.

Lots of things happen in the movie. Some are funny. None are actually scary or particularly gory. Some would call it a black comedy, but despite all the death and murder, it's not that black. There is some fun music. But visually, it feels like a low budget knock-off of the EDWARD SCISSORHANDS aesthetic. And The Creature immediately evokes Edward.

The film is not a complete failure, and there are moments that are fun or charming. But I had hoped for more, and more consistent handling of tone and character. It feels like a sketch show, where some moments land well and others land with a thud. I still give the movie a VERY SLIGHT thumbs-up...but I think there was a better movie buried here...if Cody had brought more care to the script and if director Zelda Williams had pushed her secondary cast a bit more. The film feels low budget, so maybe time & money didn't allow. That would be a shame.

In the end, this movie that clearly wants to emerge as a cult favorite, is likely doomed to fade into obscurity.

Save your money, save your time.

[wesleyjolder · 1/10 · 18 February 2024]

Lisa Frankenstein, the latest 2024 cinematic endeavor, is an unfortunate misfire, deserving of a 1/10 rating. The film, which seemingly aimed to blend horror elements with a quirky, colorful aesthetic, falls flat in nearly every aspect imaginable.

The plot is the first major casualty of this cinematic catastrophe. It meanders aimlessly, lacking both purpose and real meaning. Instead of engaging the audience with a coherent story, the film seems to stumble from one scene to the next, leaving viewers wondering what, if anything, the filmmakers were trying to convey. The attempts at weaving a narrative are so disjointed that any potential for substance is quickly lost in a sea of confusion.

Comedy, which could have served as the film's saving grace, instead adds to its downfall. The humor, if it can be called that, is so poorly executed that it fails to elicit even the slightest chuckle. It's a clear indication that the film struggles to find its identity, caught between wanting to be a comedic spoof and a genuine part of the horror genre it awkwardly tries to parody.

The acting further compounds the film's woes. It's rare to see a movie where the performances are uniformly lackluster, but Lisa Frankenstein manages this feat with disheartening success..

Ultimately, this is a film without substance. It's a hollow shell of a movie, lacking the creativity, wit, and emotional core necessary to make a lasting impact. The film's failure to deliver a meaningful plot, coupled with its unsuccessful attempts at humor and subpar acting, makes it a forgettable experience. In a year that has seen its fair share of cinematic offerings so soon, Lisa Frankenstein stands out for all the wrong reasons.

I loved the film 100%

[jambob-32257 · 10/10 · 7 February 2024]

I was honestly pleasantly surprised by "Lisa Frankenstein." Based on the teaser trailer, I thought I might hate it. Diablo Cody has written this brilliant sci-fi rom-com, which serves as a damn fine feature debut for Zelda Williams. It's a reimagining of the classic Mary Shelley story, infused with a teen-centric 1989 vibe and a style reminiscent of cult classic genre films such as "Serial Mom," "Heathers," "Jawbreaker," and "Edward Scissorhands."

It's moody, messy, and campy as hell, with genuinely funny, timely, and somewhat subversive jokes. Nostalgic by nature, although the time frame works well, and with some tweaking in technique, I believe they could have sold this as lost media from that era. Kathryn Newton is undoubtedly a scream queen at this point, and she portrays the coming of rage quite effectively. I'm sure it'll be criticized by PG-13 horror haters, but if you go in with an open mind, immerse yourself in the music, appreciate all the tributes to old cinema, and enjoy the near-perfect comedic timing, I'm confident you'll enjoy it. Additionally, it's now apparently set within the same universe as "Jennifer's Body," so it's receiving a high spot in my horror prequel rankings. Go see this movie!

80s dark satire putting the spotlight on mental illness

[malmevik77 · 7/10 · 12 February 2024]

Lisa Frankenstein

The Zelda Williams directed dark comedy, Lisa Frankenstein, is set in 1989 and the movie loves to remind you of this. 80s pop culture, clothing, trends and technology are mentioned so many times, it gets a bit tedious. The film has enough comedy coming from the main plot that I'm not sure why this needed to be added.

The story revolves around the titular Lisa who is living with her father, stepmother and stepsister not long after her mother was brutally murdered in a home invasion. The fact her father remarried so soon is glossed over, especially since the stepmother is a terrible, terrible human being.

Lisa, a loner at her new high school, spends a lot of time at an abandoned cemetery speaking over the grave of a young man who died in the mid nineteenth century. When lightning strikes the grave, the young man, who isn't fully named, rises from the dead, as one does, and searches out Lisa to help reassemble some of the body parts that are missing from his reanimated corpse.

This film takes mutilation and murder, and makes them both satisfying and hilarious. The supernatural aspect makes one suspend their disbelief, but the crimes could happen. What does it say about me that I gleefully applauded some of the more grisly aspects? After Lisa's mother's death, her damaged psyche is not treated with comfort and love, but with a crazy insistence that she should just get over it. My writing always seems to drift into the defense of mental illness, and this is no exception. I suspect that the death of Robin Williams affected Zelda's choices as the director, and I applaud the use of dark satire to get the point across.

The ending of the film didn't quite come together, however. The train wreck, that Lisa and the deceased became, definitely went further off the rails and then came to a screeching halt. I have questions that won't be answered, and I hate it when movies do that. Don't be smarter than me, movie!

This would be a solid 7.5 or 8, but that ending and too many self aware 80s references bumped it down for me. I liked it though; dark humor is a favorite genre of mine.

Wanted to leave-it's hot garbage

[jaclynlangenwalter · 1/10 · 10 February 2024]

I've never left a theater before, but this movie was actually THAT bad. First of all, it should not be PG-13 as it crosses that line many times. Aside from that and my biggest gripe is that it just plain sucks. Nothing was interesting about the characters. Nobody (and I mean not one) laughed at it. It was entirely unfunny and a waste of time. The characters weren't likable, the plot was messy (at best), there really seemed to be no point to the story at all. I typically will watch any movie that rates at a 6 or above. I never leave negative reviews, but honestly... this one is just hot garbage in every way.

Instant cult classic energy.

[pfjzxj · 7/10 · 29 March 2024]

I have to give this a 7. It's campy. Corny. Filled with cliches, but, it's still an enjoyable movie, funny, and with enough originality to keep you watching and entertained. I loved it, if I'm being honest. The set designs, the characters, the colors and cinematic elements were all great. Even the music was top notch.

It's 1989, and Lisa Swallows is an outcast rebel with a loving family anxious to make her fit in. Her stepmother is the exception. She wants to see Lisa institutionalized, for a variety of reasons.

Lisa herself is a rebel teen in high school who has taken to an abandoned cemetery as she's obsessed with death and dying. She saw her mom killed by an axe murderer, and as such, she's been traumatized. But not to worry, a lightning storm and a bit of magic after a disastrous party changes Lisa's life forever.

Honestly, I can see this becoming a cult classic. Maybe even in a few years, seeing some new generation of outcasts falling in love with it.

quirkified 80's

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 11 March 2024]

It's 1989. Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) is a depressed high school teen after losing her mother. Her father quickly remarries Janet (Carla Gugino) and Taffy (Liza Soberano) is her new overly helpful cheerleader stepsister. She is obsessed with a specific grave in a nearby cemetery. When lighting strikes, the body (Cole Sprouse) comes back alive.

This is a quirkified 80's Tim Burton adjacent with a Heathers sensibility. In fact, I'm picturing this with a young Winona Ryder. Mostly, I'm not sold on Lisa. I'm not sold on her character arc and her turn into a semi-villain. It's her love of a constructed dream-boy. It's her turn from goth to mean girl to psycho killer to a victim of love. I'm not in love with this love story although I do like the weirdness. Instead of a dead mother, I would suggest a dead boyfriend. That would solve all my concerns.