Macaulay Culkin and Seth Green dressed in drag, guide us through the chaotic New York club scene in "Party Monster," currently showing at Madstone Theaters.
Even though the first part of this film drags - no pun intended - and lacks a real story, the plot slowly builds up, gradually offering a unique experience that is comical and tragic. Set in the 1990s, "Party Monster" is the story of Michael Alig (Culkin) who comes to New York in pursuit of an exciting party life. Michael meets James St. James (Green) at a coffee shop, where he initiates a conversation with James and they begin their rocky friendship.
Filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato based this movie on a documentary of the same name and on the book Disco Bloodbath by James St. James.
With James' reluctant help, Michael establishes his own club-kid identity and tries to make it on the scene by throwing crazy parties. Through his attempts to create the most elaborate and interesting party possible, we are led into the desperate and lonely world of the characters. We meet the eye-patched club owner Peter Gatien (Dylan McDermott), whose hypocritical motives might provoke feelings of genuine frustration in the viewer. Other party kids flow in and out of the film, including Gitsie (Chloe Sevigny) who speaks only when she's told; Angel (Wilson Cruz) who carries a variety of drugs and wears angel wings; and the drugged-up drag queen, Christina (Marilyn Manson)
Though the filmmakers only had a small budget, the style and flash they managed to impart is impressive. A large portion of the teensy budget was likely spent on the 1,000 costumes in the film, give or take, and each one is intricate and extraordinary.
The film was shot and edited to convey loads of activity and color, much like a music video. There are several telling bathroom-mirror shots of Culkin. The film could have easily fallen into shallow club scenes with only flashy costumes and lots of people dancing, but instead it brings to life deep, three-dimensional characters seeking love and attention via all the wrong paths. The drugs and desperation continue to escalate up to a deadly conflict that eventually changes everyone.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
In a news release, Barbato said the goal of the film is to seduce its audience into discomfort. The film achieves this goal. Viewers will likely be uncomfortable, yet intrigued. Each scene is full of parties, drugs and depression. In the end, these things inevitably lead to destruction. "What is most disturbing is a lack of moral clarity," Barbato said.
This is a frightening aspect of the film - there is no distinctive moral struggle for any of the characters.
"Michael dared to live out our fantasies, but look what happened," Barbato said. "His story is a sad film all dressed up and ready to party."
Although "Party Monster" rouses reactions of pity and anger toward the characters, we are left with the realization that Michael has become a monster. James, his only true friend, is shaken by Michael's actions, but he struggles to keep his identity until the end.
