Weird Science

John Hughes wrote and directed, but the premise is borrowed: the source is Made of the Future, a 1951 pre Comics Code story by Al Feldstein, and the end credits state that the Weird Science title is used by permission of William M. Gaines. The Frankenstein reference is literal rather than decorative. What gives the boys the idea is the 1931 Frankenstein itself, and clips of Colin Clive and Boris Karloff are cut straight into the picture. The cast reads oddly now. Robert Downey Jr. turns up as the bully Ian and is billed on screen as Robert Downey, while Bill Paxton plays Chet. The performer first cast as Lisa left after 2 days of shooting, citing creative differences, and Kelly LeBrock took the role. Filming began at the Northbrook Court shopping mall on 2 October 1984 and finished on 21 December, with the producers insisting on closed sets so that the plot would stay secret. 3 weeks went to neighbourhoods outside Chicago and the rest to Universal stages and backlot. Oingo Boingo perform the title song, which Danny Elfman wrote. Made for 7.5 million dollars, the picture returned 38.9 million worldwide. A good fit if you want the Frankenstein joke turned on teenage insecurity. Not for anyone troubled by the idea of a woman built to order.