Party Monster (2003)
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29% of critics liked it
(77 reviews) -
74% of users liked it
(36,318 ratings)
After profiling Monica Lewinsky, Billy Haynes, and Tammy Faye Bakker, documentarians Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato make their feature debut with this true-life tale of the rapid climb and lurid demise of a flamboyant young club promoter in late-'80s/early-'90s Manhattan. Based on James St.… More After profiling Monica Lewinsky, Billy Haynes, and Tammy Faye Bakker, documentarians Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato make their feature debut with this true-life tale of the rapid climb and lurid demise of a flamboyant young club promoter in late-'80s/early-'90s Manhattan. Based on James St. James' nonfiction account Disco Bloodbath as well as on the writer/directors' own 1998 documentary, Party Monster features former child star Macaulay Culkin as Michael Alig, a Midwestern teen determined to forget his past amidst the bright lights and throbbing house music of New York City's nightlife. Introduced to the club scene by St. James (Seth Green), Alig quickly becomes an event promoter himself, dreaming up bizarrely themed dance parties in such unlikely venues as fast-food restaurants and subway cars. But this archetypical "club kid" orchestrates his own downfall when, stoned on designer drugs, he and accomplice Freez (Justin Hagan) brutally murder their small-time dealer friend Angel Menendez (Wilson Cruz). Party Monster had its world premiere in the Dramatic Competition at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Directed By
- Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
- Written By
- Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
- In Theaters
- Sep 5, 2003 Wide
- Studio
- Strand Releasing
Critic Reviews
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Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
It's the drunk-guy- at-the-party syndrome: The only one truly entertained by the clown with the lamp shade on his head is the clown with the lamp shade on his head -- or folks similarly inebriated.
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Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
A mess.
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Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
We begin the film not knowing what brought Michael and James together. We end, after a too-long 98 minutes, precisely the same way.
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Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
In the end, for all the vibrancy, there's not much there there. Maybe that's the point, but I doubt it.
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Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
You haven't seen this many outrageous costumes since the Halloween parade on Cedar Springs.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Macaulay Culkin
as Michael Alig
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Seth Green
as James St. James
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Chloë Sevigny
as Gitsie
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Natasha Lyonne
as Brooke
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Justin Hagan
as Freez
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Wilson Cruz
as Angel
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Wilmer Valderrama
as Keoki
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Dylan McDermott
as Peter Gatien
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Marilyn Manson
as Christina
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Diana Scarwid
as Michael's Mom
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Manny Perez
as Johnny
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Lucy Liu
as Alessandra
- Daniel Franzese
