It is always exciting when a new filmmaker comes around. New talent usually results in a burst of creativity, originality and stories which usually haven’t been done or told before. That is exactly the case here with Zelda Williams and her first feature-length theatrical film, Lisa Frankenstein. Zelda Williams is the daughter of the late Robin Williams, so she may know a thing or two about the craft. Being born and raised with her father making films it was only natural that one day she would enter the industry herself, and she has done it in the most exciting way possible. Full of flair, colour and style, Lisa Frankenstein is a bold first film and there’s a lot to talk about.
Lisa Frankenstein is a comedy and a romance with a very neon-bright 1980s setting and aesthetic. Kathryn Newton plays Lisa, a loner and outcast who sadly lost her mother in a brutal murder. She lives with her dad, her step-mother and her step-sister. Lisa struggles to make friends or socialise, instead she prefers hanging out in graveyards. Through a freak lightning strike in a graveyard a young man comes back to life. Lisa and this Monster soon begin a whirlwind romance that involves killing those close to her in order to give him the body parts he needs to become normal again. The plot may sound uninspired but the writing is very quirky and off-kilter. The chemistry between Lisa and the Monster is the highlight of the film with strong performances from Newton and Cole Sprouse.
Lisa Frankenstein takes a lot of inspiration from films such as Pet Sematary, Warm Bodies, and Edward Scissorhands alongside the hit television show Stranger Things. There is also a Tim Burton sensibility to the film especially with the more gothic elements. Zelda Williams has clearly created a love letter to 90s horror films, but the coming-of-age elements are just as fun with some homages to John Hughes and his films too. The grunts from the Monster feel comedic and the lively and free-spirited Lisa balances this mute creature with her sparky personality. The visuals and the writing blend together seamlessly and the result is something you won’t see anywhere else.
Lisa Frankenstein is fun and light-hearted. Sometimes the film switches a bit too quickly from the horror elements to the romantic elements, but you soon get used to this storytelling method. When the killings happen the film starts to have a sense of threat and consequences with Lisa caught between love and family. I have to give a lot of credit to Zelda Williams as the film could have gone a completely different way but she sticks with the themes and the genres and we get a very satisfying ending. Lisa Frankenstein may only appeal to a niche market but I believe in a few years time this film will achieve a cult status. There truly isn’t any other film quite like it.
★★★★☆
4/5
Final Verdict:
Lisa Frankenstein, much like the surname, is an experiment stitched together with a collective group of themes and ideas from the horror, romance and coming-of-age genres. The film has a very particular look and feel and that works to its advantage. Actress Kathryn Newton and actor Cole Sprouse both deliver fun and over-the-top performances that both elevate the film and provide the story with enough chemistry to cause a spark and bring the film to life. Lisa Frankenstein as a film works very well, it is just a shame a lot of people will probably end up missing out on it.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
Commentaires