Party Monster (2003)

Based on 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.

Directors:

Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato

Writers:

Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato

Stars:

Macaulay Culkin, Wilson Cruz, Seth Green

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Seth Green	...	James
Macaulay Culkin	...	Michael
Diana Scarwid	...	Elke
Dillon Woolley	...	Young James
Marilyn Manson	...	Christina
Dylan McDermott	...	Peter Gatien
Mia Kirshner	...	Natasha
Wilmer Valderrama	...	Keoki
Elliot Kriss	...	Cabbie
Janis Dardaris	...	TV Reporter
Wilson Cruz	...	Angel
Manny Perez	...	Johnny
Justin Hagan	...	Freez
Brendan O'Malley	...	Young Michael
Phillip Knasiak	...	Young Wrestler

Storyline

Set in the New York club scene of the late 1980's thru the 1990's, a tale which is based on the rise and fall of club-kid promoter Michael Alig, a party organizer, whose extravagant life was sent spiralling downward when he boasted on television that he had killed his friend, roommate, and drug dealer, Angel Melendez. Originally from Indiana, Alig moved to New York, and came to be an underground legend, known for his excessive drug use and outrageous behavior in the club world. At his peak, he had his own record label, and magazine, and hosted Disco 2000, one of the biggest club nights in New York in the '90s. He was doing a lot of drugs, and as his addiction got worse, his party themes became darker and more twisted. Alig's saga reached its tragic crescendo when he viciously murdered his drug dealer, Angel, by injecting him with Drano and throwing him in the East River. The power he wielded on the club scene made him feel untouchable, so he didn't hesitate to boast of the murder. The...

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Plot Keywords:

gay | homosexual | true crime | drugs | party | 

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Taglines:

good. evil. fun.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive drug use, language and some violence

Details

Country:

USA Netherlands

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

Party szörnyek

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$161,190, 7 September 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$728,253, 28 December 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

World of Wonder, Killer Films, ContentFilm

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exteriors of Michael's apartment building were shots of where the real Michael Alig actually used to live.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

The Rat: Remember me? Clara the Chicken... and Terisius the Rat!
James: [in exasperated voice] No!
The Rat: [pats James' head] You really should stay off the K

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Connections

References The Sound of Music (1965)

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Soundtracks

Seventeen
Written by Daniel Hunt
Performed by Ladytron
Courtesy of Emperor Norton Records and Telstar Records Ltd.

User Reviews

"Saved" by the pill....

A famous quote by Pauline Kael about Greta Garbo was that "she was the complete reason to see a film". Well, let me tell ya, I will agree, astonishing even myself, that Maculay Culkin fits this description about PARTY MONSTER. Off screen for 9 years and making two excellent eye-popping returns (the sly wry and hilarious SAVED is the other) 23 year old Culkin is nothing more than front and center startling and compelling in this very clever club culture expose of the very real and very cruel pill bunny Michael Alig. Released clumsily on one print in Australia and off screen in 2 weeks, this film deserved smart marketing and even a reissue before DVD dumping because it has a potentially huge audience and major industry credit as a very difficult genre to re create successfully. I think PARTY MONSTER is a complete success in its serious efforts to capture the dance party scene of the 90s and the glittering bowel of its dark side. The performance by Seth Green is equally disturbingly funny, complete with effete rantings and flummoxed quips that leave the viewer smiling in admiration at his genuine talent. The look of PARTY MONSTER is almost as if Larry Cark re made "Studio 54" and got Bob Mackie to create the costumes. The art direction and costume design is especially perfect and adds hilariously to what is, I believe one of the most clever and nasty black comedies to emerge from the USA this century. Marilyn Manson as gigantic dopey drag queen Christina (geddit) is especially hilarious and shocking. If you have seen the equally brave and hilariously tragic HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH and also read Roger Ebert's superbly written and accurate review of PARTY MONSTER then you will be well equipped to deliciously slurp up every frame of this - literally - sensational disco bloodbath. To say that the astonishing and entertaining performances of Culkin and Green are fearless is the understatement of the century. 20th or 21st! PARTY MONSTER is a major achievement.