Consider Liza Soberano’s role as Taffy in Lisa Frankenstein her middle finger to her haters who thought she couldn’t make it.
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To the casual fan, Lisa Frankenstein has been making noise as it serves as Liza Soberano’s first Hollywood movie. To movie buffs, a script by Diablo Cody and the directorial debut of Zelda Williams is enough to get ears perked. Regardless, the movie has gotten people talking since we first learned about it in 2022. Fast forward two years later, and Lisa Frankenstein is finally here as it rises from the dead and onto cinemas.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
This “coming-of-rage” tale tells the story of Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton), an awkward 17-year-old trying to adjust to a new school and a new life after her mother’s death and her father’s hasty remarriage. Despite the unwavering support offered by her cheerleader stepsister Taffy (Liza Soberano), Lisa only finds solace in the abandoned cemetery near her house, where she tends to the grave of a young man who died in 1837 – and whose corpse she unwittingly reanimates (Cole Sprouse). After he comes back to life after a freak storm, Lisa embarks on a quest to breathe new life into her long-dead new companion through a tanning bed and freshly harvested body parts.
If that sounded unlike what you mostly see in cinemas today, that’s because it is. Lisa Frankenstein takes an ax to the coming-of-age genre with a blend of horror, gothic 80s, and a dash of romance, all making for an odd but fun little movie. Oh, and Liza Soberano really is as good as people say she is.
UNDEAD BEAU
The coming-of-age genre has seen many iterations throughout cinema history. And Lisa Frankenstein can join the canon as another interesting take on the genre. Writer Diablo Cody, who is the mind behind classics Jennifer’s Body and Juno, weaves a script that takes a quirky and darkly comedic take on teenage growing pains. Following the traumatic death of her mother, Lisa finds it hard to socialize and always trips up whenever she’s near the boy she likes. But her calling and awakening comes when The Creature comes to life, and the two form a bond that goes beyond friendship.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
Love, especially of the teenage kind, can lead you to make some rash decisions. Lisa Frankenstein takes that for a spin by having Lisa’s focus of affection be an actual zombie, which leads to some interesting scenarios. Admittedly, it starts slow and doesn’t have the most seamless combination of its varying elements. It takes a bit for the flick to get its stride on its tone. But once the movie finds its footing in its second half, it gets the job done.
The film also goes to some widely dark places. In particular, whenever the film leans to its Frankenstein and horror inspirations, it makes for some of the most exhilarating parts of the movie. It’s definitely a mild, even generic, kind of horror that will not have you losing sleep, but blood will be spilled and things will fly.
IP – INTUITIVE PERSON
Leading the way is the titular Lisa, played by Kathryn Newton. Once Lisa loses her inhibitions and becomes less self-conscious, she commands the screen as a young (goth) woman who knows what she wants. Newton brings that out exceptionally, especially when she embraces the more darkly confident aspects of Lisa. As for Cole Sprouse, who plays The Creature, it’s serviceable but will leave you wanting more. Since The Creature has no speaking lines, it’s up to Sprouse to convey meaning and emotion through his body movement and language, something that doesn’t always translate well on screen.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
But arguably, the real star of the show is Taffy, played to a T by Liza Soberano. It could have been so easy for Taffy to have been portrayed as the popular and mean stepsister we’ve seen time and time before. But Soberano imbues a genuine positivity into the character who, while still being several steps above the social ladder as compared to Lisa, still treats her as her sister and wants nothing but the best for her. Empathetic, earnest, and wildly popular, naturally perfect Taffy is the antithesis of the stereotypical “mean girl”, and it’s a breath of fresh air.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
It’s a pleasant surprise to see where Taffy, and in turn Soberano, goes in the movie with a couple of the most memorable scenes involving the Filipino actress. There’s a reason why Taffy has proven to be a favorite of many. A star is born, or more aptly, reborn, in Liza Soberano.
80s RAGER
What Lisa Frankenstein strives to achieve might not work well for some filmmakers, but Cody and director Zelda Williams pull it off, and in a distinctly 80s style, too. Cody sets up the story, while Williams translates this quirky and wild ride well. As her first time out, she does a commendable job. Other details, such as a tanning bed serving as The Creature’s source of rejuvenation in lieu of being struck by lighting like the actual Frankenstein’s monster, add to the movie’s unique perspective.
Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
It’s a charming movie that establishes a nice visual style and persona. And don’t get us started on those ‘fits we wouldn’t mind wearing today. The movie’s biggest crutch though is that it could have gone even further with what it does. The groundwork is there for a fun time, but there’s a sense that Lisa Frankenstein could have pushed the envelope in certain ways to make for a truly memorable experience.
SHE’S LIVING, HE’S DECAYING
Lisa Frankenstein is no dead movie walking. An interesting plot, good performances, and unique takes on tried-and-tested genres make for an entertaining time. In particular, the film got us excited to see what’s next for Zelda Williams and Liza Soberano, who both prove they have something to give in Hollywood. Lisa Frankenstein isn’t leaps ahead of the competition, but it’s a good first time out. A solid though not a genre-defining experience worth the price of admission is what you’ll get.
Lisa Frankenstein is now showing in cinemas nationwide.
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