Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

I found myself in a bit of a love-hate relationship with this film and the reason for that is because I only liked half of it. That isn't to say I hated the other half but more that it wasn't what I was expecting or wanting from the film. The reason for this is because I assumed from all the love and odd clips I had seen of it there was going to be quite a bit of morbid humour that never amped up until the second part of the movie. In fact I found myself enjoying the film a lot more once it had passed the hour mark. I think a lot of the reason for this is because it held a lot of cliche movie moments. Naturally it was the unpopular weird new girl who was the one to bring back the dead and it was more natural that she had some tragic backstory. It was obvious she was never going to get with Micheal but would end up with Frankenstein. It was even expected that her new step mum would be the unaccepting heavy handed leader and her dad was the soft push over. The most surprising element was how great her step sister was.

Truly I found myself rooting for Taffy because at every turn she was not just nice but actively encouraging towards Lisa. She was standing up against her mum, looking out for her at the party and hyping her up as she entered her new style. There were moments when it was clear she didn't agree with Lisa's fashion sense but that never resulted in putting her down instead she gave compliments on how great she looked. When Lisa came down in clothes that were Taffy's she was never mean about it but ecstatic because as Lisa says ‘sisters share’. At every moment Taffy was just happy that Lisa seemed to finally be accepting her as a sister and as family and that was all she ever seemed to want. In spite of how strange others thought she was there wasn't one moment she put her down in secret. At the party when she drank the spiked drink she yelled at those that did it and when she left school early she made sure her sister had a way to get home despite her feelings. Taffy's friend group very clearly did not like Lisa but that didn't stop her begging them to help her get home safe even if Lisa herself said she would walk. I was truly surprised to see the step sister character being played in this way but I was also thankful for it because she did become one of my favourite characters.

Now that doesn't excuse the fact that she slept with Micheal, knowing that Lisa had a big crush on him. Though even that was handled with care. Maybe I am truly naive but the moment I saw Michael with Taffy I thought she was going to make a switch and turn into the typical evil step sister who only slept with Micheal to spite Lisa but she didn't. Instead she apologised profusely saying it was something unexpected that happened which was why she kept it such a secret and I have reason to believe her. When she woke Lisa up after the party she made references herself to hooking up with people which made me think she was going to be this sex positive character which is why it confused me when Taffy said nothing when she got a hickey. I again thought it would be a moment where Taffy would be honest with her sister and attempt to bond over boys and possibly getting Lisa a better boyfriend but instead she hid it and lied. Then having it revealed it was Michael she was sleeping with made it all make sense. She likely would have talked to Lisa about it but because it was Michael she was filled with too much guilt about it. Of course it doesn't excuse the fact it happened but I do believe it wasn't done out of malicious intent. For that reason I was also glad when Lisa stood up against Frankenstein to not kill her sister.

Side note: that fucking scene was incredible! Truly the greatest moment of the film. The slow motion and close ups over everyone's face as blood splat everywhere and then the shadow of his penis being cut off. Cinema.

The point I am trying to make is I think the best relationship we were shown is that between Lisa and Taffy. I was so thankful for the heart to heart at the end where Lisa admits she was treating Taffy inconsiderately because her mum was so horrible she assumed Taffy was the same but she wasn't. It is such a complex situation to be in and so interesting to watch. This one outcast sister who thinks everyone hates her and thinks she's weird and the other popular cheerleading cliche sister who just wants desperately to have a sister connection. I wish I could have seen more and honestly was even hoping that Taffy would somehow find out about Frankenstein and they would bond further over it before later realising that his ear has the same eating as her mum and getting suspicious over it. But again that is just my want as an OG Taffy stan. It would have also then made more sense for Taffy to be at Lisa's grave at the end because they had connected and shared that sisterly relationship but until now they have just been ships passing in the night. After everything that happened too it would make sense that Taffy would hold a grudge but she doesn't, she even seems to silently understand who the other flowers are from and who's wife she is but says nothing. A true mystery decision in my eyes.

Onto the specifics of Frankenstein and Lisa, is it bad if I say I wish they had stayed friends? The dynamic they shared together was good and I admit at the end I was rooting for them myself and see that they work good together, that wasn't my issue. I guess in my head the vibe they gave off at the start was reluctant mutuals turned girly best friends and I thought that was just fun to see. Clearly Frankenstein loved Lisa from the start and after his heartbreak when he was human I understand why he would have a redemption but still I couldn't get my head around the fact they were anything other than murdering besties. Especially during the sleepover scene when they were gossiping and having deep chats it just felt like hundreds year old friends that sort of hate one another- sort of can't live without them. That dynamic for me worked better than lovers, friends where one lures in a victim, the other kills them and then she uses the body parts to help him. It spoke to me as a very much girly fun time and I wish it could have stayed like that. But as I said I do like them together also, they fit very well I just personally liked the best friends aspect more.

Following from this, I do wish we had learnt more about the axe killer who murdered Lisa's mum. It seemed to act as a random fact of information about why Lisa is considered the new girl in school but I also wish we knew more about it. The killer even appeared in Lisa's dream which again is the most realistic dream sequence I have seen. I've had enough of films making hyper realistic character scenes just to have them wake up and it was all a dream. The dream Lisa had was a slightly chaotic mesh of a bunch of things from around her life and the situation she was in that combined perfectly. Not just during that dream but the axe was brought up again when killing Doug. A murder that to me was just karma, after the shit he pulled at the party I think he deserved worse. But using the axe as a murder weapon I thought would bring back memories of the time her mum was killed. Or even at the end when Micheal was hurt and then as Lisa was going after Frankenstein I was so sure they would have a brief moment that drew on similarities of the characters but it was never mentioned at all. Because of that I do wish we could have known more. Perhaps in a second film?

For the first time this month I find myself asking for a second. I did have difficulties at the start but knowing how it ends and does pick up I would watch this again happily and would love for a second to happen. I would love for the second film to take place a few years later when Taffy is at college and while at college she tracks down and finds Frankenstein who she then secretly follows to some abandoned house. But the house looks surprisingly taken care of and inside she finds Lisa. I need them to work on their relationship and finally have a fully mutual sisterhood desperately and I need for all three of them (Frankenstein, Lisa and Taffy) to have a girly style tea and sandwiches debrief. We could also have a chat where Lisa admits she struggles looking back realising how similar she was to the murderer that killed her mum and she regrets it though is thankful because it gave her Frankenstein. Taffy could also admit that her mum was a bitch and she feels bitter sweet also, because her mum is gone and she is sad but it also means less pressure to succeed and to be herself. All of which join together where Lisa hypes up Taffy to be her full self and they set a plan to investigate who the murderer is because he was never found. Then we have a second film of campy detective work. Writers you may use this as inspiration as long as I get credited. But for that reason of how fun and silly it is I am marking it high and would recommend it to others who have not seen it to check it out.