Party Monster (2003 film)

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Party Monster
Party Monster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Fenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Produced by Fenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Jon Marcus
Christine Vachon
Edward R. Pressman
John Wells
Wouter Barendrecht
Michael J. Werner
Written by Fenton Bailey
Randy Barbato
Based on Disco Bloodbath 
by James St. James
Starring Macaulay Culkin
Seth Green
Chloë Sevigny
Diana Scarwid
Marilyn Manson
Music by Jimmy Harry
Cinematography Teodoro Maniaci
Editing by Jeremy Simmons
Studio Killer Films
Fortissimo Film Sales
World of Wonder
Distributed by Strand Releasing
Release dates
  • January 18, 2003 (2003-01-18) (Sundance)
  • September 5, 2003 (2003-09-05)
Running time 99 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $5 million
Box office $742,898

Party Monster is a 2003 American biographical drama film directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, and starring Macaulay Culkin as the drug-addled "King of the Club Kids". The film tells the story of details the rise and fall of the infamous New York party promoter Michael Alig. This was Macaulay Culkin's first film in over nine years since his starring role in 1994's Richie Rich.

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 Angel Melendez and went to prison. A 1998 documentary on the murder, also called Party Monster: The Shockumentary, was used for certain elements of the film. Despite negative reviews, Party Monster is now considered a cult film. [2]


Based on the book Disco Bloodbath, by James St. James, 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. Soon after meeting, Gitsie becomes Alig's new girlfriend. 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 and treat it as a "Second Honeymoon", leaving James behind. James then begins to write his "Great American Novel" published as Disco Bloodbath and later as Party Monster.



The soundtrack peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums.[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 2.5/5 stars[4]
PopMatters (positive)[5]
No. Title Artist Length
1. "Take Me to the Club"   Mannequin 3:36
2. "Seventeen"   Ladytron 3:31
3. "Frank Sinatra"   Miss Kittin & The Hacker 3:53
4. "Money, Success, Fame, Glamour"   Felix da Housecat vs. Pop Tarts 3:23
5. "You're My Disco (Fischerspooner Remix)"   Waldorf 4:26
6. "Two of Hearts"   Stacey Q 3:36
7. "Overdose"   Tomcraft 2:57
8. "Get Happy"   Happy Thought Hall 3:28
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 Tin 3:26
15. "Give Me Tonight"   Shannon 3:53
16. "(How to Be A) Millionaire"   ABC 3:35
17. "Crash"   Keoki 2:54
18. "The La La Song"   Marilyn Manson 1:32
19. "Good is Bad"   Headrillaz 2:56
20. "Santa Baby"   Cynthia Basinet 3:23




The film received mainly negative reviews; it currently holds a 28% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 74 reviews (55 negative, 21 positive); the consensus states "The lurid display of camp soon turns tedious."[6] 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".[7]

The film was only given a limited release. According to Box Office Mojo, the film only grossed $742,898 domestically[8] out of a budget of $5 million in its theatrical release.

Home media[edit]



External links[edit]