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Party Monster

Party Monster

Comedy · Drama · Crime · 2003

The New York club scene of the 80s and 90s was a world like no other. Into this candy-colored, mirror ball playground stepped Michael Alig, a wannabe from nowhere special. Under the watchful eye of veteran club kid James St. James, Alig quickly rose to the top... and there was no place to go but down.

Movie details

Party Monster

“Till death do they party.”

2003 Comedy · Drama · Crime 1h 38m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.8 / 10

Community rating

The New York club scene of the 80s and 90s was a world like no other. Into this candy-colored, mirror ball playground stepped Michael Alig, a wannabe from nowhere special. Under the watchful eye of veteran club kid James St. James, Alig quickly rose to the top... and there was no place to go but down.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Party Monster?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Fenton Bailey · Randy Barbato

Written by

Randy Barbato · Fenton Bailey

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin

Michael Alig

Seth Green

Seth Green

James St. James

Chloë Sevigny

Chloë Sevigny

Gitsy

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne

Brooke

Wilmer Valderrama

Wilmer Valderrama

Kioki

Wilson Cruz

Wilson Cruz

Angel

Diana Scarwid

Diana Scarwid

Elke

Court is in session

Put Party Monster on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Arthouse Gremlin

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.