Lisa Frankenstein: a feminist, campy revival of the Frankenstein tale

The 2020s have produced a surge of Frankenstein adaptations, yet Zelda Williams' 2024 horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein has remained largely overlooked. Led by Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse, the film divided critics and underperformed at the box office, but it still feels more alive than many Shelley‑inspired peers.

Diablo Cody's sharp screenplay balances a frothy '80s homage with weightier material—grief, isolation, sexual trauma, the death of a parent and the forging of an unlikely sisterhood—handling these themes with nuance, care and frequent hilarity. The movie stands out as one of the most feminist takes on the myth, notably casting its mad scientist as a teenage girl who gets to act like one.

The plot begins with Lisa nearly alone after her mother is murdered and her father remarries Janet (Carla Gugino), bringing stepdaughter Taffy (Liza Soberano) into the house.

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