PARTY MONSTER

Year: 2003
USA: Strand Releasing
UK: Tartan Films
Cast: Macaulay Culkin, Seth Green, Manny Perez, Chloë Sevigny, Natasha Lyonne, Justin Hagan, Wilson Cruz, Wilmer Valderrama, Dylan McDermott, Marilyn Manson, Diana Scarwid, Matthew Carey, Daniel Franzese, John Stamos, Aphrodita, Astroearle, Michael Kaycheck, Keda, Kenny Kenny, Mia Kirshner, Sofia Lamar, Amanda Lepore, Walt Paper, Arman Ra, Sacred
Directors: Fenton Bailey, Randy Barbato
Countries: USA / Netherlands
USA & UK: 98 mins
USA Rated: Not Rated
UK Certificate: 18 contains frequent hard drug use
USA Release Date: 5 September 2003 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 17 October 2003


Synopsis

PARTY MONSTER the movie, based on the James St. James book 'Disco Bloodbath' and the documentary 'Party Monster', is a buddy movie with a twist, or a twisted buddy movie. Its focus is the relationship between Michael Alig and James St. James, two kids from the mid-west who come to New York where they re-invent themselves as fabulous people. Although it is not immediately clear to James, Michael instantly recognizes that they are soul mates and immediately latches on to him. Shy outsiders as kids, they both learned to hide their feelings behind witty facades, and their bickering and barbed exchanges reveal a profound bond and budding a co-dependency.

Michael is the quicker study even though James is smarter and more learned. So although it is James who initiates Michael into New York nightlife, it is Michael who quickly rises to the top with his impulsive nature. Michael instantly seized on new ideas with extreme intensity. Nothing with Michael was ever done in moderation.

Michael gathered around him similarly like-minded souls, the kids who had been teased and bullied in school, giving them fabulous new Club Kid identities. They were the Lost Boys to his Peter Pan. James could see that Michael's chaotic and unruly behaviour was a kind of genius. It was performance art. Michael's minting of superstars out of those least likely to be stars parodied society's absurd obsession with celebrity.

In reality shy and retiring, Michael's exuberant public front demanded that, to remain ahead of the pack and leader of the parade, he continually had to outdo himself with increasingly outrageous pranks. But one day Michael went too far and it ended in murder...