Party Monster (film)

Last updated
Party Monster
Party Monster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byFenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Written byFenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Based on Disco Bloodbath
by James St. James
Produced byFenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Jon Marcus
Christine Vachon
Starring Macaulay Culkin
Seth Green
Chloë Sevigny
Diana Scarwid
Wilmer Valderrama
Natasha Lyonne
Wilson Cruz
Dylan McDermott
Marilyn Manson
Cinematography Teodoro Maniaci
Edited byJeremy Simmons
Music by Jimmy Harry
Production
companies
Distributed by Strand Releasing
Release dates
  • January 18, 2003 (2003-01-18)(Sundance)
  • September 5, 2003 (2003-09-05)
Running time
99 minutes [1]
CountriesUnited States
Netherlands
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million
Box office$742,898

Party Monster is a 2003 American biographical crime drama film written and directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, who are also producers along with Jon Marcus and Christine Vachon. It stars Macaulay Culkin as the drug-addled "king of the Club Kids". The film tells the story of the rise and fall of the infamous New York City party promoter Michael Alig. This was Macaulay Culkin's first film in nearly nine years since his starring role in the 1994 film Richie Rich .

Contents

The film is based on Disco Bloodbath , the memoir of James St. James which details his friendship with Alig, that later fell apart as Alig's drug addiction worsened, and ended after he murdered Andre "Angel" Melendez and went to prison. Bailey and Barbato had previously directed a 1998 documentary on the murder, also called Party Monster: The Shockumentary , from which certain elements were used for this film.

Plot

The film opens with Michael Alig as a small-town outcast who lived with his mom before moving to New York. Michael learns the New York party scene from James St. James, who teaches him the "rules of fabulousness", which mostly revolve around attracting as much attention to oneself as possible.

Despite James' warning, Alig hosts a party at The Limelight, a local club owned by Peter Gatien. With Alig as its main attraction, The Limelight soon becomes the hottest club in New York. Alig is named "King of the Club Kids" and goes on a cross country journey in search of more club kids. Alig and James pick up Angel Melendez, Gitsie, and Brooke. Gitsie becomes Michael's latest sidekick although the movie implies the relationship was little more than platonic. However, after Michael descends further into drug abuse, his life starts to spiral out of control, eventually culminating in his involvement in the murder of Angel. Gitsie and Michael decide to go to rehab but ultimately return to NY with the same drug problems as before, causing Michael to lose his job and end up in a motel in New Jersey where he is arrested and sent to prison after being ousted by James. James then begins to write his "Great American Novel", published first as Disco Bloodbath and later as Party Monster.

Cast

Soundtrack

The soundtrack peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums. [2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Take Me to the Club"Mannequin3:36
2."Seventeen" Ladytron 3:31
3."Frank Sinatra" Miss Kittin & The Hacker 3:53
4."Money, Success, Fame, Glamour" Felix da Housecat vs. Pop Tarts3:23
5."You're My Disco" (Fischerspooner Remix)Waldorf4:26
6."Two of Hearts" Stacey Q 3:36
7."Overdose" Tomcraft 2:57
8."Get Happy"Happy Thought Hall3:28
9."La Rock 01" Vitalic 3:05
10."Go!" Tones on Tail 2:34
11."New York New York" Nina Hagen 4:41
12."It Can't Come Quickly Enough" Scissor Sisters 3:32
13."Inside Out"W.I.T.3:36
14."Kiss Me"Stephen Tin Tin3:26
15."Give Me Tonight" Shannon 3:53
16."(How to Be A) Millionaire" ABC 3:35
17."Crash"Keoki2:54
18."The La La Song"Marilyn Manson1:32
19."Good is Bad"Headrillaz2:56
20."Santa Baby" Cynthia Basinet 3:23

Release

Party Monster made its world premiere at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2003, and later played at the Cannes Film Festival in May of that year. On September 5, 2003, the film was put on limited release to different art house theaters in major US cities.

Reception

The film received mainly negative reviews; it currently holds a 29% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 79 reviews; the consensus states "The lurid display of camp soon turns tedious." [4] It was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, however, and Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars, calling Culkin's performance "fearless", though he remarks that "the movie lacks insight and leaves us feeling sad and empty—sad for ourselves, not Alig—and maybe it had to be that way". [5]

The film was only given a limited release. According to Box Office Mojo, the film only grossed $742,898 domestically [6] out of a budget of $5 million in its theatrical release.

Home media

The film was released on DVD in the United States and Canada in February 2004 through 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment; the DVD contained various cast interviews, an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes footage, the film's original theatrical trailer, and a real interview with Michael Alig as bonus materials. In 2009, the DVD has been discontinued and is now largely unavailable for purchase at standard retail stores. It is available for renting through Netflix and instant viewing.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macaulay Culkin</span> American actor (born 1980)

Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin is an American actor and musician. He rose to prominence as a child actor starring as Kevin McCallister in the first two films of the Home Alone film series. One of the most successful child actors of the 1990s, Culkin was placed 2nd on VH1's 2005 list of the "100 Greatest Kid-Stars". His awards include a MTV Movie Award from three nominations, a Young Artist Award, and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. In 2023, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<i>The Good Son</i> (film) 1993 film by Joseph Ruben

The Good Son is a 1993 American psychological thriller film directed by Joseph Ruben and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It was written by English novelist Ian McEwan. Its story follows a 12-year-old young boy named Mark who, after the death of his mother, is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle while his father is away on a business trip. While there, he meets his cousin Henry, who shows signs of violent and evil behavior. It stars Macaulay Culkin, Elijah Wood, Wendy Crewson, David Morse, Daniel Hugh Kelly, and Jacqueline Brookes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Limelight</span> Chain of nightclubs best known for its NYC location in a former Episcopal church

The Limelight was a chain of nightclubs owned and operated by Peter Gatien. It had locations in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, London and Hallandale, Florida.

<i>Uncle Buck</i> 1989 film by John Hughes

Uncle Buck is a 1989 American comedy-drama film written and directed by John Hughes, and starring John Candy and Amy Madigan with Jean Louisa Kelly, Laurie Metcalf, Jay Underwood, Macaulay Culkin, Gaby Hoffmann, Elaine Bromka, and Garrett M. Brown appearing in supporting roles. The film tells the story of a bachelor who babysits his brother's rebellious teenage daughter and her younger brother and sister while the parents are away.

<i>Home Alone 3</i> 1997 film by Raja Gosnell

Home Alone 3 is a 1997 American family comedy film directed by Raja Gosnell in his directorial debut, written and co-produced by John Hughes, and starring Alex D. Linz and Haviland Morris. A standalone sequel to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), it follows Alex Pruitt, an 8-year-old boy who defends his home from a dangerous band of international criminals working for a terrorist organization. It is the third film in the Home Alone franchise, the only one not set during Christmas, and the first not to feature actor Macaulay Culkin, director Chris Columbus, or composer John Williams; Gosnell had previously served as editor on the first two Home Alone films. It is also the final film in the Home Alone franchise to receive a theatrical release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Alig</span> American club promoter socialite

Michael Alig was an American club promoter and artist who was convicted of felony manslaughter. He was one of the ringleaders of the Club Kids, a group of young New York City clubgoers who became a cultural phenomenon in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In March 1996, Alig and his roommate, Robert D. "Freeze" Riggs, killed fellow Club Kid Andre "Angel" Melendez in a confrontation over a drug debt. In October 1997, Alig pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter. Both men were sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison. Riggs was released on parole in 2010. Alig was released on May 5, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Musto</span> American journalist

Michael Musto is an American journalist who has long been a prevalent presence in entertainment-related publications, as well as on websites and television shows. Best known as a columnist for The Village Voice, where he wrote the La Dolce Musto column of gossip, nightlife, reviews, interviews, and political observations, in 2021, he started writing articles about nightlife, movies, theater, NYC, and LGBTQ politics for the revived Village Voice, which returned as a print publication, with accompanying website.

The Club Kids were a group of young New York City dance club personalities. The group was notable for its members' flamboyant behavior and outrageous costumes.

<i>Disco Bloodbath</i> Book by James St. James

Disco Bloodbath: A Fabulous but True Tale of Murder in Clubland is a 1999 memoir written by James St. James about his life as a Manhattan celebutante and Club Kid. The book specifically chronicles his friend Michael Alig's rise to fame, and Alig and his roommate's subsequent murder of fellow club kid and drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez. St. James was Alig's mentor, rival, and collaborator in the Manhattan party scene and was familiar with many of its key figures. The memoir was later retitled Party Monster after the 2003 motion picture of that name starring Macaulay Culkin, Seth Green, Chloë Sevigny, and Marilyn Manson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Keoki</span> Musical artist

George Lopez, known by his stage name DJ Keoki or Keoki Franconi, is a Salvadoran-American electronic musician and DJ. Born in El Salvador and raised in Hawaii, Keoki began advertising himself as "superstar" shortly after moving to New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Melendez</span> Murdered dancer and purported drug dealer

Andre Melendez was a member of the Club Kids and drug dealer who lived and worked in New York City. He was killed by Michael Alig and Robert "Freeze" Riggs on March 17, 1996. His life and death have inspired several pieces of media, including books, films, music, and television.

<i>The Pagemaster</i> 1994 US fantasy adventure film

The Pagemaster is a 1994 American live-action/animated fantasy adventure film starring Macaulay Culkin, Christopher Lloyd, Whoopi Goldberg, Patrick Stewart, Leonard Nimoy, Frank Welker, Ed Begley Jr., and Mel Harris. The film was produced by Turner Pictures and Hanna-Barbera and released by 20th Century Fox on November 23, 1994. Culkin stars as a timid boy who uses statistics as an excuse to avoid anything he finds uncomfortable in life. But after reluctantly undertaking an errand for his father, he gets caught in a storm, which forces him to seek refuge in a library. He then finds himself trapped inside the library, where he must battle his way through literary classics come to life if he is to find his way home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James St. James</span> American TV & internet personality and author

James St. James is a television & internet personality, author, celebutante, frequent collaborator with Mathu Andersen, and former "Club Kid", a member of the New York City club scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunnel (New York nightclub)</span> Defunct nightclub (1986–2001)

Tunnel was a nightclub located at 220 Twelfth Avenue, in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It operated from 1986 to 2001.

<i>Cop and a Half</i> 1993 film by Henry Winkler

Cop and a Half is a 1993 American family buddy cop-comedy film directed by Henry Winkler, and stars Burt Reynolds, Norman D. Golden II and Ray Sharkey. Reynolds plays a veteran cop who reluctantly takes an eight-year-old boy (Golden) as his partner to solve a murder investigation.

Peter Gatien is a Canadian club owner and party promoter. He is best known as the former owner of several prominent New York City nightclubs, including Club USA, The Limelight, Palladium, and Tunnel.

<i>Party Monster: The Shockumentary</i> 1998 American film

Party Monster: The Shockumentary is a 1998 documentary film detailing the rise of the club kid phenomenon in New York City, the life of club kid and party promoter Michael Alig, and Alig's murder of fellow club kid and drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez. It was directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.

<i>Twelve</i> (2010 film) 2010 film

Twelve is a 2010 teen crime drama film directed by Joel Schumacher from a screenplay by Jordan Melamed, based on Nick McDonell's 2002 novel of the same name. The film follows a young drug dealer whose luxurious lifestyle falls apart after his cousin is murdered and his best friend is arrested for the crime. It stars Chace Crawford, Rory Culkin, Curtis Jackson, Emily Meade, and Emma Roberts.

Limelight is a 2011 documentary film that charts the rise and fall of New York City club king Peter Gatien. Produced by Gatien's daughter, Jen Gatien, it was released in special markets throughout the United States and Canada on September 23, 2011.

Screamin' Rachael, born Rachael Cain, is an American musician and Chicago native dubbed the "Queen of House Music" by Billboard magazine,. Rachael has been connected to the evolution of the House music genre. She has worked with performers such as Grandmaster Melle Mel, Marshall Jefferson, Colonel Abrams, Afrika Bambaataa, and many others.

References

  1. "PARTY MONSTER (18)". British Board of Film Classification . 2003-07-14. Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  2. "Charts & Awards - Party Monster – Various Artists". AllMusic . 2003. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  3. Kellman, Andy (2003). "Party Monster – Various Artists". AllMusic . Archived from the original on 2013-01-29. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  4. Party Monster at Rotten Tomatoes
  5. Ebert, Roger (5 September 2003). "Party Monster movie review & film summary (2003)". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  6. Party Monster at Box Office Mojo