Surviving high school is already a daunting task on its own, but when you add in the trauma of your mother being brutally murdered in your own living room, coping becomes virtually impossible. Lisa Swallows, a socially awkward 17-year-old, finds herself thrust into a new school and a new life after her mother’s tragic demise and her father’s hasty remarriage. Despite the unwavering support from her plucky cheerleader step-sister Taffy, Lisa struggles to find solace anywhere except the abandoned cemetery near her house, where she dutifully tends to the grave of a young man who died way back in 1837.
But everything changes one dark and stormy night in the fall of 1989. After suffering a humiliating experience at a high school party, Lisa finds herself making a desperate and heartfelt wish—to be with the young man in the world beyond. However, when a monstrous-looking corpse turns up on her doorstep the following evening, Lisa quickly realizes there has been a cosmic misunderstanding. Despite this, she feels an overwhelming obligation to help the poor soul regain his humanity. Thus, she embarks on a perilous quest to breathe new life into her long-dead companion. All she needs to succeed are some freshly harvested body parts and Taffy’s broken tanning bed.
Lisa Swallows, our high school senior protagonist, spends her free time at the abandoned Bachelor’s Grove cemetery, where she visits the grave of a young man who tragically died decades earlier. This unconventional pastime promises to change the course of her life forever. After attending a high school party that takes a dark turn, with Lisa being drugged, humiliated in front of her crush Michael Trent, and assaulted by her lab partner Doug, she flees to the sanctuary of the cemetery.
During a powerful lightning storm, Lisa makes a fateful pronouncement before her favorite grave: “I wish I was with you.” Bruised, bloodied, and emotionally shattered, she heads home, not knowing what awaits her. To her shock and amazement, Lisa is visited by the reanimated corpse of the Victorian-era gentleman, who arrives at her doorstep missing an ear, a hand, and various other appendages. Despite the grotesque appearance, the Creature has been so moved by Lisa’s heartfelt words that he becomes utterly devoted to her. Though Lisa had meant her wish to be buried alongside the young man, she now feels responsible for his current predicament. Determined to help him adapt to his newfound undead state, Lisa embarks on a journey that involves a shower, an updated wardrobe, and the acquisition of body parts to replace those that are missing.
From the brilliant mind of Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, known for her outstanding work on films like Juno and Jennifer’s Body, comes a truly electrifying new horror-comedy and coming-of-rage romance: Lisa Frankenstein. Starring the talented Kathryn Newton (known for her role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) and the charming Cole Sprouse (famous for his role in Riverdale), Lisa Frankenstein promises to be a wild and captivating cinematic experience. The film also features Carla Gugino (from The Haunting of Hill House), Liza Soberano (known for Make It with You), Joe Chrest (from Stranger Things), and Henry Eikenberry (from HBO’s Euphoria).
Making her feature debut, director Zelda Williams brings her wildly inventive vision to the screen. Produced by Diablo Cody and Mason Novick under the MXN Entertainment banner, Lisa Frankenstein is a testament to their creative collaboration. With Jeffrey Lampert as the executive producer, the film boasts a talented crew, including director of photography Paula Huidobro, production designer Mark Worthington, costume designer Meagan McLaughlin Luster, and editor Brad Turner. Additionally, the captivating creature makeup and prosthetics are created by Legacy Effects, ensuring a visually stunning and immersive experience.
Get ready to mark your calendars because Lisa Frankenstein, the fiendishly clever genre-bending romp, will be hitting theaters exclusively on February 9, 2024, just in time for Valentine’s Day. From the inventive and delightfully twisted minds of screenwriter Diablo Cody and first-time feature director Zelda Williams, Lisa Frankenstein takes us on a thrilling journey through the warped lens of Mary Shelley’s classic novel.
Screenwriter Diablo Cody explains, “I have always toyed with themes of transformation and reinvention. In everything I write, someone is going through a dramatic change, whether it’s becoming possessed by a demon or dealing with a new stage of life. The question I’m always asking is: are we the same person after a profound change? How many parts can we swap or replace before we’re a totally new entity? This movie is a pretty literal interpretation of that!”
The creative spark for Lisa Frankenstein came to Diablo Cody when she learned about Universal’s plans to develop a new film based on James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein, a sequel to the iconic 1931 classic Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff. With her fascination for paranormal love stories and her passion for reinventing classic tales, Cody found herself inspired to craft her unique spin on the timeless story, resulting in the birth of Lisa Frankenstein.
With its inventive storytelling, delightfully twisted humor, and captivating visuals, Lisa Frankenstein promises to be an addictively sardonic and genre-bending experience. As Lisa and the Creature navigate their strange and unexpected connection, they discover the power of love, self-discovery, and the resilience of the human spirit. Prepare to be immersed in a world where high school drama collides with the supernatural, and where the boundaries of life and death blur.
Stay tuned for more updates and behind-the-scenes insights as Lisa Frankenstein brings new life to a beloved story in a way you’ve never seen before. Save the date, and get ready to experience the electrifying world of Lisa Frankenstein when it hits theaters on February 9, 2024.
