Gods and Monsters 1998

Clay rises early from his beach trailer and drives to the opulent residence of Mr. Jimmy, where he gets to work mowing the lawn. During this time, David arrives to check on Mr. Jimmy’s well-being, prompting a conversation between him and Clay, the new gardener. Despite Mr. Jimmy’s invitation for a dip in the pool post-work, Clay informs him that he has another lawn to tend to.

Subsequently, an academic named Edmund Kay pays a visit to Mr. Jimmy, expressing unabashed admiration for his films. As they chat by the pool, Mr. Jimmy reminisces about his youth in London, his transition into films, and eventually to Hollywood. Feeling bored by Kay’s incessant inquiries, he suggests that Kay disrobe in exchange for answers regarding his past experiences related to homosexuality in Hollywood and the making of Frankenstein.

As the discourse continues, Mr. Jimmy starts to feel faint and requests Kay’s assistance to rest inside. His maid, Hanna, scolds him for pursuing romantic interests so soon after a hospital visit. A doctor’s appointment reveals that Mr. Jimmy has suffered a stroke that has left him with some cognitive impairment.

While working in the garden, Clay catches Mr. Jimmy’s eye, leading to an invitation to share some iced tea in the artist’s studio. There, Mr. Jimmy discusses his direction of the inaugural Frankenstein films and shows an interest in Clay’s expressive features, offering him payment to model. Clay, albeit confused by Hanna’s insinuation about potential harm, agrees to pose for Mr. Jimmy.

During the modeling session, Mr. Jimmy asks Clay to remove his shirt, despite only intending to draw his face. As he begins to sketch, he narrates a memory of his impoverished childhood, reflecting on how he felt markedly different from his family—more gifted and intelligent.

Meanwhile, Clay brags at a bar about having a famed director, Mr. Jimmy, sketching him. Betty, the bartender with whom Clay has shared intimacy, plays The Bride of Frankenstein on the television. Although the film garners critique for its lack of fright, Clay finds himself connecting with the monster’s profound loneliness.

Flashback: Mr. Jimmy directs actors on the set of The Bride of Frankenstein.

After his bar escapade, Clay confronts Betty outdoors but grows upset when she declines to rekindle their intimate relationship. He calls his parents from a payphone but remains evasive in conversation.

In a dream, Mr. Jimmy imagines Clay as Dr. Frankenstein, attempting to replace his brain and spark him back to life. Hanna informs Clay that Mr. Jimmy has invited him for lunch, during which she suggests that Jimmy is involved in morally questionable activities. During their meal, Mr. Jimmy expresses disappointment that The Bride of Frankenstein was not perceived as a comedy and shares his past involving a “husband” named David.

The conversation turns sour when Mr. Jimmy mentions modeling by naked male figures, causing a furious Clay to flee. Afterward, Clay attempts to find comfort in a series of transient relationships at the bar, only to return to Mr. Jimmy’s residence with a stipulation: he will model again if the conversation shifts away from lascivious topics.

As their relationship deepens, Mr. Jimmy invites Clay to a grand party where they encounter numerous celebrities, including Princess Margaret and George Cukor. Cukor’s curt demeanor and David’s cold interaction with Mr. Jimmy create a palpable tension.

A thunderstorm leads to their early return, and drenched from the rain, Mr. Jimmy offers Clay a cozy sweater while he himself wraps in a towel. During a candid dialogue, Clay reveals his military background—a boot camp experience cut short by appendicitis.

In a moment of vulnerability, Mr. Jimmy engages Clay in a conversation about fears and monsters, reflecting on his lost love from the war. However, when the conversation turns too intimate, culminating in Mr. Jimmy’s aggressive advances, Clay responds with violence, rejecting Mr. Jimmy’s request for a fatal end.

Following this confrontation, Clay finds himself awakening in Mr. Jimmy’s home to discover a haunting drawing of the monster from Frankenstein. Chaos ensues when he discovers Mr. Jimmy face down in the pool, with Hanna revealing a suicide note. Amidst this turmoil, Clay suggests that they place Mr. Jimmy’s body back in the pool to avoid suspicion.

Years later, Clay sits with his son, watching a serene scene from Bride of Frankenstein, where a blind man befriends the monster. As he reflects, Clay lights a cigarette, mirroring the creature on screen. After the film, he shares with his son a cherished sketch of the monster, inscribed by Mr. Jimmy: “For Clayton. Friend?” This nostalgic moment leads Clay outside into the rain, echoing the monster’s journey, signifying a cycle of connection and solitude.