Lisa Frankenstein

This is an entertainingly demented, bubble-gum black comedy for fans of Heathers and Tim Burton. In the late 80s, depressed teen Lisa Swallows (Kathryn Newton) has been left traumatised by her mother's violent death and her father's rapid remarriage. Following a freak lightning strike, the young Victorian gentleman whose grave Lisa has been tending jerks back to life. Lisa sets about healing this strange and silent creature (Cole Sprouse), with the assistance of a faulty sunbed, before things turn murderous. This is a camp and macabre tale from writer Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer's Body) and while it's not her most fleshed out script, Cody crafts some wicked one-liners ("When you cry it smells like a hot toilet at a carnival"). First-time director Zelda Williams flanks her colourful, cartoony visuals with some amusingly employed cheesy rock tracks. Sprouse is endearing as Lisa's reanimated love interest, while Carla Gugino is a hoot as her evil stepmother. But the charismatic Newton deserves the most credit, as she convincingly goes from despondent to deranged, while sporting some fabulous retro fashion.