A coming of RAGE love story about a misunderstood teenager and her high school crush, who happens to be a handsome corpse. After a set of playfully horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness … and a few missing body parts along the way.

For in-depth thoughts on Lisa Frankenstein, please see my colleague M.N. Miller’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

Lisa Frankenstein arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Universal Studios Home Entertainment with a delightful AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The color palette is presented with a noted depth that enhances the deliberate aesthetic of the photography. Black levels are nice and deep with some layered detail in shadows. The highlights do not seem to showcase any blooming in this presentation. Skin tones are natural across the entire cast (at least as it suits the characters) with even the most minor facial details on full display.

The level of clarity in this presentation is favorable at every turn, especially when it comes to the facets of the makeup or unique production design. All of the subtle aspects of the costumes and environments are likewise razor-sharp. Even bloody moments are impressive in their grotesque beauty. There are no serious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable here, but you might spot a minor amount of digital noise. Universal has delivered a first-rate transfer for this Blu-Ray, even if we would have preferred a 4K UHD Blu-Ray option.

Audio Quality

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track brings impeccable life to this undead tale. The fun soundtrack and score flow through with perfect fidelity. Dialogue comes through clearly with no information feeling lost or drowned out in the sound design. Sound effects have a purposeful sense of direction within the mix with every aspect registering as important. The movie uses environmental sounds to terrific effect, and the track retains solid detail even in the more raucous developments. The soundscape is very dynamic with a complex design throughout. The movie places a large focus on dialogue, but it digs deep into the low end when the story calls for it. Universal has treated this one well. There are optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Zelda Williams provides a commentary track in which she discusses the creation of the inventive opening credits, shaping the look of the film, working with Kathryn Newton, finding bits of the production design at a bargain, her least favorite production moments, and more.

Deleted Scenes: Five scenes of unused material totaling four minutes are provided that are interesting but were cut for obvious reasons.

Gag Reel: Nearly three minutes of amusing moments, ruined takes, laughing fits, malfunctioning props, and more.

An Electric Connection: A five-minute look at the characters, the themes of the film, the dynamic between the leads, and more.

Resurrecting the ‘80s A five-minute featurette that explores the decade portrayed in the narrative, the fun flourishes added to the production design, how the era influences the story, and more.

A Dark Comedy Duo: A four-minute look at the creation of Diablo Cody and how her unique point of view blended with the sensibilities of Zelda Williams.

Final Thoughts

Lisa Frankenstein is another clever, entertaining narrative from the mind of Diablo Cody brought to the screen by first-time director Zelda Williams. While the film can be a bit tonally out of sorts, and some stretches lull briefly, the film works really well when it explores its core themes and leans on the talents of Kathryn Newton. Some may want the film to be more humorous than it is, but the approach taken allows for a greater thematic impact. It is not quite a home run, but it is a great viewing experience we look forward to revisiting often. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray with a wonderful A/V presentation and a nice amount of special features. If you are a fan of the stars and the concept, you should not walk away disappointed. Recommended

Lisa Frankenstein will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD on April 9, 2024. The film is currently available on Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.