Beach Rats

Frankie, a 19-year-old from Brooklyn, struggles with his identity and purpose. He spends his time hanging out with friends and getting high to escape his challenging home life.

Frankie's home life is complicated, consisting of a younger sister and a mother preoccupied with caring for his terminally ill father. This instability drives Frankie to seek solace in casual relationships outside his family.

By night, Frankie frequents the Brooklyn Boys webcam platform where he interacts with gay men while disguising his identity. He maintains secrecy by wearing a hat, revealing his inner conflict about his sexuality.

During a fireworks display at Coney Island, Frankie meets a girl named Simone who tries to initiate intimacy. However, his light-hearted approach leads to her disappointment, and she leaves feeling rejected.

After seeing Simone with another man at the beach, Frankie feels compelled to apologize for his earlier behavior. This encounter allows Simone to tentatively forgive him, as the two begin to navigate their complicated connection.

Tragedy strikes when Frankie's father loses his battle with cancer. This substantial loss prompts Frankie to misuse his father's medication, as he seeks an escape from his grief and confusion.

During a date with Simone, Frankie awkwardly presses her about same-gender kissing, trying to navigate their relationship dynamics. This uncomfortable interaction highlights his internal struggles with sexual identity.

Frankie engages in a hookup with a gay man at a motel, which confronts him with the reality of his sexual orientation. He insists to himself that he is not gay but only has a girlfriend, showing his struggle for self-acceptance.

As Frankie's online world begins to collide with his real life, he finds himself in compromising situations with male partners in public. This reckless behavior threatens his relationship with Simone, who eventually grows distant.

With his drug supply dwindling, Frankie convinces his friends to join him in pretending to be gay on a chat site to obtain more substances. This idea reflects his increasing desperation and willingness to blur boundaries.

Frankie plans to meet Jeremy, an openly gay man, after his friends show skepticism about his intentions. As Jeremy arrives, tension arises due to Frankie's friends wanting to exploit the situation for drugs.

When Frankie meets Jeremy at the beach, his friends ambush them for the drugs. Despite Frankie's attempts to protect Jeremy, the situation escalates into violence, leaving Jeremy brutally attacked.

After the traumatic events with Jeremy, Frankie returns home and begins the process of erasing his online presence. This act symbolizes his desire to start anew and distance himself from his conflicting identities.

The film concludes with Frankie alone, watching fireworks at the boardwalk, his face reflecting anguish and confusion. He grapples with the choices he's made and the turmoil of his turbulent journey.