Party Monster (2003)

Directors:

Fenton Bailey
Randy Barbato

Writers:

Fenton Bailey (written by)
Randy Barbato (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

17 October 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

good. evil. fun.

Plot:

This is the true story of Michael Alig, a Club Kid party organizer whose life was sent spiraling down when he bragged on television about killing his drug dealer and roommate.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Party | Drug Dealer | Club Kid | Publicity

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Seth Green	...	James St. James
Macaulay Culkin	...	Michael Alig
Diana Scarwid	...	Elke
Chloë Sevigny	...	Gitsie
Marilyn Manson	...	Christina
Dylan McDermott	...	Peter Gatien
Mia Kirshner	...	Natasha
Wilmer Valderrama	...	Keoki
Daniel Franzese	...	The Rat / Dallas MC
Natasha Lyonne	...	Brooke
Elliot Kriss	...	Cabbie
Wilson Cruz	...	Angel
Janis Dardaris	...	TV Reporter
Dillon Woolley	...	Young James
Manny Perez	...	Johnny
Justin Hagan	...	Freez
Brendan O'Malley	...	Young Michael
Phillip Knasiak	...	Young Wrestler
John Henry Summerour	...	Rodney (as John Summerour)
John Stamos	...	Talk Show Host
Michael Kaycheck	...	Ben
Steven Marcus	...	Bill
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angel Anes	...	Candy Cane (uncredited)
Joey Gray	...	Karl (uncredited)
Amanda Lepore	...	Herself (uncredited)
Walt Paper	...	Himself (uncredited)
Richie Rich	...	Himself (uncredited)
Sacred Schneidmiller	...	Himself (uncredited)
James Sheldon	...	Male Geisha (uncredited)

Directed by
Fenton Bailey
Randy Barbato

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Fenton Bailey		written by
Randy Barbato		written by
James St. James		book "Disco Bloodbath"

Produced by
Fenton Bailey	....	producer
Randy Barbato	....	producer
Wouter Barendrecht	....	executive producer
Jon Marcus	....	producer
Edward R. Pressman	....	executive producer
John Schmidt	....	executive producer
Bradford Simpson	....	producer
Thairin Smothers	....	associate producer
Sofia Sondervan	....	executive producer
Derrick Tseng	....	line producer
Christine Vachon	....	producer
John Wells	....	executive producer
Michael J. Werner	....	executive producer

Original Music by
James Harry		(as Jimmy Harry)

Cinematography by
Teodoro Maniaci

Film Editing by
Jeremy Simmons

Casting by
Susan Shopmaker

Production Design by
Andrea Stanley

Art Direction by
Laura Ballinger

Set Decoration by
Susan Ogu

Costume Design by
Richie Rich		(as Heatherette)
Michael Wilkinson

Makeup Department
Brian Abbott	....	makeup artist
Jill Astmann	....	assistant makeup artist
Derek Becker	....	special makeup effects artist
Robin Day	....	key hair stylist
Davion Edwards	....	hair design assistant
Jason Hayes	....	hair and wig designer
Jason Hayes	....	hair department head
Kabuki	....	key makeup artist
Cassandra Keating	....	key makeup artist
Sacred Schneidmiller	....	makeup artist (as Sacred)
Josh Turi	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Beau J. Genot	....	post-production supervisor
Sophia Lin	....	production manager
Stephanie Meurer	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Brillman	....	second second assistant director
Alyson Latz	....	second assistant director
Michael Lerman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Will Alovis	....	property master: Los Angeles
Sarah Berney	....	charge/camera scenic artist
Laurie Chakel	....	art production assistant
Brent Godek	....	lead man
Brenna Griffin	....	set dresser
Andrea Harrell	....	art department artist
Michael Jortner	....	assistant property master
John Moran	....	graphics
Marc Newman	....	lead man
John Vogler	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Antonio L. Arroyo	....	sound mixer
Lance Brown	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue editor
J. Aloysius Flanagan III	....	sound re-recording mixer assistant
Michael J. Fox	....	adr mixer
Frank Gaeta	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Getty	....	dialogue editor
Phyllis Ginter	....	foley artist
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor
Derek Marcil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis Twitty	....	sound assistant
Aaron Wilcox	....	facilities management
Aaron Wilcox	....	re-recording projectionist

Camera and Electrical Department
Oliver Cary	....	assistant camera
James Casey	....	grip
Eric Gearity	....	key grip
Michael N. Green	....	best boy electric
Sam Levy	....	camera operator
Scott Miller	....	gaffer
Mark Schmidt	....	camera operator
Craig Striano	....	grip
Joshua Van Praag	....	electrician
JoJo Whilden	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Sharon Blythe	....	casting assistant
Lois J. Drabkin	....	casting assistant
Lori Eastside	....	extras casting
Erica Palgon	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sherri Kohl Owles	....	additional wardrobe supervisor
Kate Quinlan	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jan Finnell	....	costume research assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Shawn Booth	....	post-production intern
Kashina Kessler	....	assistant editor
Michael Zeininger	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Kevin Haskins	....	composer: source cue
Howard Paar	....	music supervisor
Angelos Skordos	....	associate music coordinator
Ronald J. Webb	....	music editor (as Ron Webb)

Other crew
Sara Bartkiewicz	....	location intern
Jonathan Blitstein	....	office intern
Damien Breen	....	researcher
Pauline Burt	....	risk manager
Charlie Dibe	....	assistant to producer
Kat Donahue	....	location assistant
Larry Donahue	....	caterer
Michael Dudek	....	production assistant
Lindsay Feldman	....	office production intern
Nicole Flowers	....	production accountant: Los Angeles
Jim Galasso	....	assistant: Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
Susan Grennan	....	production assistant
Sherry Gunderman	....	script supervisor: Los Angeles
John Kalning	....	researcher
Sam Lisenco	....	pre-production coordinator
Brendan MacDevette	....	production assistant
Jeff Murry	....	assistant production coordinator
Anthony Pettine	....	script supervisor
Charles Pugliese	....	assistant: Christine Vachon
Patrick Russell	....	assistant: Sofia Sondervan
Joe Smalley	....	key set production assistant
Tess Smalley	....	production coordinator (as Teresa Reilly)
Susan J. Spohr	....	customer satisfaction
Chris Stiles	....	production assistant
Daniel Wagner	....	assistant: Christine Vachon
Meghan K. Wicker	....	assistant: Killer Films
Shelby Wong	....	office production assistant
Jeff Maksym	....	pre-production office intern (uncredited)

Thanks
Laura De Casto	....	thanks
Chris McKim	....	thanks

Production Companies

• World of Wonder
• Killer Films
• ContentFilm
• Fortissimo Film Sales

Distributors

• Strand Releasing (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• ContentFilm (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd. (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Wise Policy (Japan) (theatrical)
• esse&bi cinematografica distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• ArtCam (Czech Republic)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Carmen Films (Russia)
• DEJ Productions
• Filmax Home Video (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Karmen (Russia)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Optimale (2005) (France) (DVD)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)

Special Effects

• Drew Jiritano Special Effects (water effects)

Other Companies

• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Media Distributors Film Source  tape stock provided by
• NovaStar Digital  sound post-production
• Scarlet Letters  end titles

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive drug use, language and some violence

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA | Netherlands

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Spain:18 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Brazil:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | Czech Republic:15 | Germany:16 | Italy:VM18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18

Filming Locations:

Chateau Marmont, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

World of Wonder

Trivia:

Macaulay Culkin's first film in 9 years.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Much of the music that plays in the club scenes was not around when the original parties took place. For example, during the party where James St. James is in the "do not feed the drug child" cage (supposedly in the 80s), the music in the background is "Frank Sinatra" by Miss Kittin and the Hacker, a song which wasn't released until 2000. It is probable that the filmmakers knew about this, but used the songs anyway, due to their "retro" feel.

Quotes:

Michael Alig:That's not a crack hole! That's a rat hole!

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Soundtrack:

It Can't Come Quickly Enough

So bad, it's good - a guilty pleasure, if not quite as hedonistic as the lives of the club kids themselves

Party Monster is based on the true story of 80s club kid and promoter, Michael Alig, infamous for his bizarre New York parties and, later, for the brutal murder of a drug dealer.

It's adapted from Alig's friend James St James' book Disco Bloodbath by filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, whose earlier documentary about Alig actually inspired St James to write the book. After a nine-year absence, Macauley Culkin returns to film as cherubic bisexual Alig, who persuades James St James (a camp Seth Green) to teach him the art of infamy.

Famous for doing nothing long before reality TV, Alig becomes a manufacturer of celebrity and a promoter, serving up some wild parties, including a Halloween bloodbath, truck rave and kinky hospital party. The costumes, by Richie Rich and Michael Wilkinson, are spectacular and capture the excesses of the era. These kids affix fake spiders and cobwebs to their faces, wrap themselves in blood-soaked bandages,wear full body costumes and never look less than fabulous.

Considering the low budget and appalling production values, the high profile supporting cast is a surprise. Dylan McDermot plays Galien, club owner and Alig's mentor, with Mia Kirshner as his wife, Chloe Sevigny as Alig's girlfriend, plus Natasha Lyonne, Marilyn Manson and John Stamos. Wilson Cruz is enigmatic as wannabe and drug dealer Angel, and Wilmer Valderra is suitably objectified as Alig's beloved beefcake, DJ Keoki.

Party Monster suffers from uneven performances and poor direction but despite this, it's fascinating. It captures the disposability of party drug culture convincingly and will most likely become a cult classic. ***/***** stars.