As we near to Valentine’s Day, we’ll be getting some more seasonal offerings. But not all love stories are the same. That’s the case with the new film Lisa Frankenstein, which opens today.

The film is written by Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer’s Body) and directed by Zelda Williams, the daughter of Robin Williams. It’s fair to say it’s not the kind of romance you’re used to seeing on the big screen. But it’s got its own charm and appeal.

Set in 1989, Lisa (Kathryn Newton) is undergoing a rough transition. After her mother was murdered, she moved to a new town for her senior year as her father (Joe Chrest) got re-married. She inherited a stepsister, Taffy (Liza Soberano), who is a cheerleader and seemingly eternal optimist. And she got a stepmother (Carla Gugino) bent on making her life difficult.

Taffy tries to ingratiate Lisa with the cool crowd, but she’s more interested in her abandoned cemetery and spending time alone. One night, after a party experience gone wrong, she stands before her favorite grave and declares she wishes she was with its occupant. As fate would have it, a giant storm produces a bolt of lightning that brings the occupant (Cole Sprouse) to life.

At first, Lisa is caught off guard. But soon, she and her new creation hit it off. There’s one catch—he’s missing pieces and looking for donors to make him whole.

When you see the Frankenstein element of the title, it conjures a certain kind of story. We get some of that here, but this also feels a bit like an Edward Scissorhands vibe. There’s some dark comedy and plenty of fun 1980s vibes.

I have been a fan of Cody’s writing since I saw Juno. I still remember lines from that film, and some of the delivery of those lines, that I quote even more than a decade later. Her comedy style is unique and sometimes lead to hit-and-miss results. But we’ve seen a solid horror comedy script from her before. While not everyone’s cup of tea, I enjoyed Jennifer’s Body and was curious to see what she’d do with this story.

Visually, the 1980s style pops. I enjoyed the sequences and the performances that Williams was able to cull from the cast. Newton, Sprouse and Soberano are great. Gugino has a couple memorable scenes, and I enjoyed the periphery of Chrest’s character and his sort of obliviousness to what’s happening around him.

But much of this comes down to the story, which is at times weird and wandering. But at other times, it’s incredibly charming with some dialogue and moments that really hit for me. It’s a bit of a mixed bag for sure, but ultimately, I had fun with the production and appreciated the tone and the writing. If you’re looking for something a little darker and off-beat this February, Lisa Frankenstein hits the spot.

Lisa Frankenstein is now playing in theaters.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.