In 2003 when I was in university I was completely intrigued by a new independent film released called Party Monster. For most of us 90s kids we had only known of Macaulay Culkin as the kid from Home Alone but this was a vast departure. Party Monster, directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato is centered around the 1980s club scene in New York City.
In true camp film form it features the birth of Michael Alig played by Culkin, a real life club fixture on the downtown scene in the 80s. He created parties and encouraged a free love, fashion, and even theatrical form to nightlife. Seth Green plays his confidant, James St. James who is writing a book detailing the gruesome real life crime that actually did occur during this time. With co-stars like Chloe Sevigny, Natasha Lyonne, and Marilyn Manson the visuals are completely on point with the culture.
The film takes you deep within the club kid world and scene with many realizations of interviews and scenes that actually did occur in real life. It’s like a dramatized documentary that was often overlooked but definitely well worth a watch.
2 comments
looking for the pink sequin cardigan seth green wore in the christmas apartment scene.
ooh!