Party Monster
Release Date:
September 5, 2003
Limited release
Party Monster the story of Michael Alig, one of the so-called Club Kids who reigned over New York nightlife in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Alig was the star of the Club Kid scene until drug abuse and depression caused by the waning popularity of the Club Kid scene and his diminished place within it spun him so far out of control that he savagely murdered his one-time roommate and main drug dealer Angel Melendez.
This debut feature film by the co-directors, who are known for their documentaries, is a fictionalized version of their documentary by the same name. The script is based on the book Disco Bloodbath, written by James St James, a fellow denizen of the Club Kid scene who brought Michael into the flamboyant lifestyle and taught him the ropes. Having covered this material previously, one would expect that the co-directors will bring a special insight to bear on the dramatization of the events surrounding Michael Alig’s spectacular flame-out.
Party Monster debuted at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, where it received mixed reviews. It will now see a limited release beginning September 6, 2003. Given the subject matter, the film will likely have a short stay on the art-house circuit, but if word-of-mouth trumps the so-far-tepid reviews, then the film should see a decent second life on cable and in the home video market. I will say that, having seen part of the documentary, if this fictionalized account is half as riveting, it is well worth your time to seek it out. Besides, who could pass up the chance to see Macaulay Caulkin as a drug-crazed gay murderer? (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)
Vital statistics for Party Monster |
| Main Cast |
Macaulay Culkin, Seth Green, Wilson Cruz |
| Supporting Cast |
Chloe Sevigny, Natasha Lyonne, Justin Hagan, Wilmer Valderrama, Dylan McDermott, Marilyn Manson, Diana Scarwid |
| Director |
Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato |
| Screenwriter |
Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato, James St. James |
| Distributor |
Strand Releasing |
| Official Site |
http://www.partymonster.com/ |
| Rating |
R |
| Running Time |
98 minutes |
| Screen Count |
7 |
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Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture |
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