Lisa Frankenstein- Damnit Janet

Lisa’s mother was violently murdered when they were home one night, subsequently causing traumatic mutism. It is never explored what Lisa was like before her mother’s murder. Post therapy she enjoys poetry, graveyards, and has a knack for sewing. We are introduced to her getting ready for a party that her step-sister Taffy kindly insists she joins as she needs more social activity.

I enjoyed what I got out of this movie. The more interesting parts of the film rests with the core family: Lisa, Taffy, Dale, and Janet.They provide the frame and support that develops Lisa’s character, with the creature pushing the story forward. Janet brings up, while discussing her frustration with Lisa, that one of the reasons she turned out so well was not being coddled when her own father died. While Janet is clearly an accomplished person who is adored by her family, her suck it up attitude does little for Lisa’s traumatic mutism. 

I could not stop thinking of Tina Belcher from Bob Burger’s, and her zombie friend fiction. When Lisa fantasises about the zombie, it’s really that, a fantasy projected on someone who is long dead. When he returns to life, she clarifies her own end goal while dealing with this supernatural phenomena. Yet, progressively, she is more enamoured with her zombie paramore who is pulling her out of her trauma and life. Not unlike Tina’s use of zombies, who she is able to unrepentantly objectify.. When I brought up Tina’s ongoing personal obsession with zombies and zombie butt’s I was recommended My Boyfriends Back, a 1993 Zombie romance comedy.

It brought home the point that being dead and the pressing demands of the supernatural cuts through the bullshit we need to live through. Played as absurd, a teenager in love with his neighbour comes back from the dead and proceeds to woo his love with laser-like focus. His body is decomposing and he is forced to deal with the backlash of being a flesh eating zombie in town. But the more disgusting he becomes the more his love interest seems to be swept up in the affair.

The 80’s is a striking and prominent part of Lisa Frankenstein. Thematically it can call to mind Heathers,for the naive provocation to violence through a love interest or social cruelty, whichever way you choose to interrupt Heathers. But Lisa herself feels like a combination of influences, with her room resembling an idyllic 90’s goth chamber: the sketches on the wall, lights, and Man in the Moon poster on her closet. For its modern interpretation of the 80’s it reminds me of Totally Killer, without an active voice calling out every inappropriate facet of the time. My Boyfriend’s Back which is in the 90’s has a much softer, country aesthetic, which I can only assume is a response to 80’s flair.

Watching Lisa’s slow turn from traumatised youth to joyful accomplice to murder opened the doors to a greater appreciation of cinematic zombie romances. Whatever its failings in not providing more interesting supporting characters is more than made up for in style. As a final note, I would like to add that the use of the sun bed as a main source of magical energy has not stopped making me laugh.

Written by Natasha Melbrew