Kathryn Newton headlines Lisa Frankenstein, a 2024 horror comedy from director Zelda Williams and writer Diablo Cody, blending dark humor with a reanimated-corpse romance set in 1989. Newton plays Lisa Swallows, a grieving teenager drawn to a Victorian-era grave, while Cole Sprouse plays the corpse who comes back to life beside her. Backed by a strong supporting cast including Carla Gugino and Liza Soberano, the film offers a strange, memorable take on teen horror.
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What Is Lisa Frankenstein About
Lisa Frankenstein is a 2024 horror comedy directed by Zelda Williams, marking her feature-length directorial debut, and written by Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Juno and Jennifer’s Body. The film premiered in U.S. theaters on February 9, 2024, through Focus Features, and it arrived with a distinct 1980s aesthetic and a dark sense of humor that fans of Cody’s earlier work will recognize right away.
Set in 1989, the story follows Lisa Swallows, a teenage outsider still grieving the murder of her mother, who was killed with an axe two years earlier. Lisa spends much of her time wandering a local cemetery, drawn to the bust of a young man from the Victorian era whose grave has become something of a quiet obsession for her. Her home life offers little comfort. Her father has remarried a controlling woman named Janet, and Lisa now shares a house with a stepsister named Taffy, someone who couldn’t be more different from her in personality and outlook.
The plot shifts into gear when a freak lightning strike reanimates the corpse Lisa has been visiting. What follows is part romance, part slasher comedy, as Lisa and her reanimated companion form an unlikely bond. As the story develops, their relationship pushes Lisa toward increasingly dark choices, and the film leans into body horror and pitch-black comedy to tell what’s essentially a coming-of-age story with a corpse at its center. Diablo Cody has said the film shares a fictional universe with Jennifer’s Body, giving longtime fans of that cult classic an extra reason to pay attention to the small details scattered throughout.
The Cast Of Lisa Frankenstein
Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows
Kathryn Newton takes on the title role, playing a young woman shaped by grief and isolation who finds an odd sense of belonging in the company of the dead. Newton, known for Freaky and her role as Cassie Lang in the Ant-Man films, brings a mix of vulnerability and dry humor to the part, and critics who reviewed the film pointed to her performance as one of its stronger elements.
Cole Sprouse as The Creature
Cole Sprouse plays the reanimated corpse at the center of the story, a role that requires almost no dialogue for much of the runtime. Sprouse, best known for Riverdale, communicates the character’s confusion, affection, and growing awareness largely through physical performance, which became one of the more talked-about aspects of the production.
Liza Soberano as Taffy
Liza Soberano plays Taffy, Lisa’s stepsister, who represents the more conventional, popular-girl archetype that stands in contrast to Lisa’s gothic, withdrawn personality. The dynamic between the two characters adds friction and, eventually, some unexpected common ground to the family storyline.
Carla Gugino as Janet
Carla Gugino plays Janet, Lisa’s stepmother, a character written as self-absorbed and dismissive of Lisa’s grief. Gugino’s performance leans into the exaggerated, almost cartoonish tone the film uses for its supporting cast of adults.
Joe Chrest as Dale Swallows
Joe Chrest plays Dale, Lisa’s father, a man who has largely checked out emotionally, leaving Lisa to navigate her loss mostly on her own.
Henry Eikenberry as Michael Trent
Henry Eikenberry rounds out the main cast as Michael, a classmate connected to Taffy’s social circle who plays a role in the film’s escalating events.
Behind The Scenes Facts Worth Knowing
Lisa Frankenstein was filmed in New Orleans, with production beginning in August 2022. The film carries a budget of roughly $13 million and was scored by Isabella Summers, known for her work with Florence and the Machine. Some viewers assumed the title was a play on Lisa Frank, the brand famous for colorful school supplies, but Diablo Cody has stated that connection wasn’t intentional, even though the pastel-and-horror visual style of the film makes the comparison easy to draw.
Zelda Williams, the film’s director, is the daughter of the late actor Robin Williams, and this project marked her first time directing a full-length feature. The 1989 setting also comes through in small details throughout the film, including music choices and production design that lean heavily into late-’80s teen culture, giving the movie a retro horror-comedy feel similar in spirit to films like Beetlejuice or Heathers.
Should You Watch Lisa Frankenstein
Reception to the film was mixed upon release, with some critics praising its visual style and Newton’s performance while others felt the tone struggled to balance genuine emotion with its comedic and horror elements. Even so, the film has picked up a following among viewers who enjoy quirky, offbeat horror comedies that don’t take themselves too seriously. If you’re a fan of Diablo Cody’s writing style, or you simply want a horror comedy with a strong retro atmosphere and a memorable lead performance from Kathryn Newton, Lisa Frankenstein is worth adding to your watchlist.
FAQs
Is Lisa Frankenstein based on a true story?
No. Lisa Frankenstein is a fictional story written by Diablo Cody, loosely inspired by classic Frankenstein mythology rather than any real events.
Who plays the reanimated corpse in Lisa Frankenstein?
Cole Sprouse plays the reanimated corpse, a role performed with minimal dialogue and heavy reliance on physical acting.
Is Lisa Frankenstein connected to Jennifer’s Body?
Diablo Cody has confirmed that Lisa Frankenstein exists in the same fictional universe as Jennifer’s Body, though the two films tell separate stories.
What year is Lisa Frankenstein set in?
The film takes place in 1989, and its production design, wardrobe, and soundtrack all reflect that late-1980s setting.
Where was Lisa Frankenstein filmed?
The movie was filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana, with production starting in August 2022.
