In 'Gods and Monsters', Ian Mckellan plays the British born director James Whale in the time just before his death. A recent stroke has meant that memories are coming unbidden into his thoughts. These memories are haunting him as much as his Frankenstein films, which, like the monster, are looming over the rest of his film career, which included the anti-war Journey's End, (he had been a p.o.w. during part of World War 1), Showboat and The Man in the Iron Mask.

     Into his life comes a gardener, (played by Brendan Fraser), for whom Whale develops a dangerous obsession.

     He starts to introduce the loner to a world of which he has no previous experience. Playing Igor to the creative-genius is Lynn Redgrave as the maid Hanna.

     Adapted from the novel Father of Frankenstein, by Christopher Brain, the executive producers include Clive Barker, and I wonder how much personal recognition he found in the story of the artistic gay outsider working in the horror genre.

     My favourite sequences in the movie were the recreation of the filming of Bride of Frankenstein and the Hollywood party.

Reviewed by Suzy Kuba.