Lisa Frankenstein, directed by Zelda Williams and written by Diablo Cody, brings all the 80s glam and horror in its debut trailer. The recently released trailer arrives alongside some images that give us a sneak peek at the film and behind-the-scenes with the director and crew. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Focus Features’ Lisa Frankenstein will be released only in theaters on February 9, 2024.
Lisa Frankenstein Synopsis:
Surviving high school is hard enough on its own—add in the trauma of your mom being axe-murdered in your living room, and it becomes virtually impossible to cope. Just ask Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton), the awkward 17-year-old trying to adjust to a new school and a new life after her mother’s demise and her father’s hasty remarriage. Despite the unwavering support offered by plucky cheerleader step-sister Taffy (Liza Soberano), Lisa only finds solace in the abandoned cemetery near her house, where she tends to the grave of a young man who died in 1837.
Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
But everything changes one dark and stormy night in the fall of 1989, after a humiliated Lisa makes a desperate and heartfelt wish—to be with the young man in the world beyond. When a monstrous-looking corpse (Cole Sprouse) turns up the following evening, Lisa realizes there’s been a cosmic misunderstanding. Still, she feels obligated to help the poor soul regain his humanity, and she embarks on a 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.
Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
From Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer’s Body) comes a truly electrifying new horror-comedy, coming-of-rage romance. Lisa Frankenstein also stars Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House), Joe Chrest (Stranger Things) and Henry Eikenberry (HBO’s Euphoria).
Director Zelda Williams makes her feature debut with the wildly inventive new film, which is produced by Cody and Mason Novick under his MXN Entertainment banner. Executive producers are Jeffrey Lampert. Director of photography, Paula Huidobro; production designer Mark Worthington; costume designer Meagan McLaughlin Luster; editor, Brad Turner. Creature makeup and prosthetics created by Legacy Effects.
“First and foremost, this movie ISN’T a groundbreaking spiritual journey that will change your worldly perceptions… but it IS a ride – so maybe just try to put your hands in the air and let the coaster take you! Second, I’m nowhere near confident enough yet to consider these geniuses my references, so instead, take anything you recognize within as an unabashed love letter and homage to THEIR genius instead! To Romero and Bub. To Almodovar and longing in vibrant color. To Brooks and comedy, or Waters and camp! I am absolutely a fan of film first and a filmmaker second, so forgive me for fan-girling wherever I can.” -Zelda Williams
To turn Cole Sprouse into an undead Victorian pianist with a missing ear and hand, among other appendages, the filmmakers hired Oscar®-nominated special effects house Legacy Effects. Founded in 2009 and co-owned by Shane Mahan and Lindsay MacGowan, the company specializes in creature design, prosthetic makeup, animatronics and specialty suits as seen in such films as The Avengers, The Hunger Games and Avatar.
Credit: Michele K. Short / © 2024 FOCUS FEATURES LLC
During production, Williams formed a tight-knit bond with the principal actors. They worked closely and collaboratively to help calibrate their performances to suit the film’s tone and to nail the rhythm of Cody’s dialogue. This dialogue style has had impact from its use in iconic films of Cody’s such as Juno. More will be revealed as we approach a very special Valentine’s Day week when Lisa Frankenstein premieres in theaters on February 9, 2024.
