Lisa Frankenstein confirms soft Rotten Tomatoes rating after mixed reviews
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Lisa Frankenstein, the horror comedy from Zelda Williams and Diablo Cody, has landed a middling Rotten Tomatoes score following the publications of critics' reviews.
The film is the feature-length directorial debut of Robin Williams' daughter, while Juno and Jennifer's Body's Diablo Cody has written the script.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania's Kathryn Newton, Riverdale's Cole Sprouse, and The Fall of the House of Usher's Carla Gugino star.
Despite all the talent involved, the story of a teenage girl and her undead crush didn't impress critics, landing it a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing.
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Here's what some of the reviewers have said:
Deadline
"The film unapologetically embraces its camp nature, serving as a playful nod to '80s horror conventions of forgoing logic, acting and dialogue to prioritize the overall experience. However, this sometimes feels pared down to its most basic elements. Instead of aiming to stand on its own there is an earnest attempt to mimic Burton's distinctive style."
New York Times
"Brief, pleasant and fun to look at, the movie is not interested in anything more than love and being understood, and in that way it's a great callback to teen romances from an earlier era."
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Bloody Disgusting
"Lisa Frankenstein is at its most effective when it focuses on the comedic partnership between Sprouse and Kathryn Newton, their unique dynamic earning laughs and audience sympathy. Liza Soberano is also a standout. Taffy is a far cry from the stereotypical popular mean girl and winds up becoming a secondary protagonist thanks to Soberano's winsome portrayal."
Vanity Fair
"The film's pacing and volume are off; things play strangely muted and offhanded, even when axes are flying and various body parts are being severed and then sewn on to someone else. Lisa Frankenstein never gets its blood up, essentially playing as a casual mood piece rather than full-bodied horror or romance or comedy."
Empire
"The film refuses to settle on just one thing, having fun with the body horror elements of The Creature's slow return to life (a perfect role for Sprouse, virtually wordless but bringing humour and care to the smallest gestures) and Lisa's sudden lust for murder — as well as high school politics, issues of consent, impossible beauty standards and more.
"Williams mixes it all together and turns up the volume on the excess and ambition of the '80s with a poppy jukebox soundtrack and countless high-octane outfits."
Washington Post
"[Williams has] been asked to execute a scattershot, gratingly self-amused script that continually mistakes inanely obvious wordplay for cleverness, and snark for wit."
Lisa Frankenstein is out in the United States tomorrow (February 9) and will be released in the UK on March 1.
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