Watch With Me: Lisa Frankenstein

   

Movie: Lisa Frankenstein

Genre: Horror Comedy Romance

Rating: PG-13

Length: 1 Hr 41 Mins

Release Date: February 5th, 2024

Director: Zelda Williams

Stars: Kathryn Newton, Liza Soberano, Cole Sprouse

What it's about: 

A coming of RAGE love story about a teenager and her crush, who happens to be a corpse. After a set of horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a journey to find love, happiness - and a few missing body parts.

What I thought:

I saw a preview of this but honestly still had no idea what it was about when we went to see it in theaters. People actually got up in the middle of the movie and left. I was shocked. I absolutely love this movie. It's very much a cult classic. I laughed, I almost cried, I laughed some more. I fell in love with a dead Cole Sprouse. Don't go into this movie thinking it's going to be a serious movie, it's ridiculous in the best way.

Overall:

If you liked this movie then watch...

Fun facts:

Feature directorial debut of Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams.

When her stepmother Janet returns home, Lisa exclaims, "Dammit! Janet!", a song title from The Rocky Horror Show stage musical, which is also based on Frankenstein.

In one scene, Lisa refers to her "aunt Shelley". An obvious nod to Mary Shelley, the author of the novel "Frankenstein".

As an easter egg, there is a Robin Williams album on the floor when the main characters first interact: Throbbing Python of Love.

There is a school supply company named Lisa Frank that became very popular in the late 80s. However, according to Diablo Cody the name similarity is a coincidence. Lisa's name comes from Weird Science (1985), which also contains references to Frankenstein and features protagonists who brings a love interest to life.

Watch With Me: Renfield

Movie: Renfield

Genre: Fantasy dark comedy

Rating: R

Release Date: March 30th, 2023

Director: Chris McKay

Stars: Nicholas Holt, Nicolas Cage, Awkwafina

What it's about:

Renfield, Dracula's henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum for decades, longs for a life away from the Count, his various demands, and all of the bloodshed that comes with them.

What I thought:

I knew as soon as I saw a trailer for this in theaters I had to see it. I love Nicolas Cage, I love Nicholas Holt, I love Dracula.. What more could I want?
This was better than I ever could have imagined, the humor was amazing, the acting was great, Awkwafina is the perfect actress I swear. I loved the story. I didn't find myself bored and I kind of found myself wanting to watch it again the next day. 
It is very gore-y as well, though I think that's something to expect with a vampire movie. My 9 year old wanted to watch it and we told him we had to watch it first. As my husband and I were watching it we said that Finn definitely cannot yet. 

Overall:

An amazing, funny, entertaining, dark comedy. 

If you liked this movie then watch...

Fun facts:

Renfield's Syndrome, also known as Clinical Vampirism, is a rare psychiatric disorder where an individual has an intense fascination with drinking blood or believing themselves to be a vampire. This syndrome is named after the character R. M. Renfield from Bram Stoker's novel, "Dracula," who consumed live insects to obtain their life force.

Nicolas Cage's mannerisms as Dracula are all explicitly based on Christopher Lee's Dracula.

Despite a history of turning down non-leading roles in studio films, Nicolas Cage signed on to play Dracula. It was a life-long dream of his to portray the legendary figure.