Customer Reviews

Party Monster [VHS]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My best friend and I used to skip school whenever we knew Michael Alig and his Club Kids were going to be on Geraldo, Donahue, Sally Jessy Raphael, or any other talk show. Watching the Club Kids was so completely riveting and insane. They didn't make any sense, but it didn't matter. They all become stars, quite simply because they willed it to happen.

And then it all went terribly wrong. Surely you know how the story goes: Michael, in an extremely drugged state of mind, killed fellow Club Kid Angel Melendez over drugs. Angel was bludgeoned and injected with Drano. His body was left in a bathtub for days, only to be chopped up and placed in a big TV box, stuck in the back of a cab, and then thrown in a river hopefully to sink and never be found.

Before the body surfaced, Michael somewhat jokingly admitted to killing Angel. Wouldn't the best way to claim his innocence be to admit to doing something so horrific and terrible? Who'd believe that you really did it if you said you did it in such a joking manner? Someone believed him because Michael's in prison now.

"Party Monster" tells the whole sordid story in detail. It's chock full of Michael Alig interview footage- plus interviews with his mother and lots of the other Club Kids like James St. James and Keoki (among others) . It's the story of extreme excess, and how it all went horribly wrong. If you've ever had any desire to experience life through a K-hole, watch this. You'll change your mind immediately!

This is the documentary that ultimately spawned James St. James' "Disco Bloodbath" book, and the film that came out of that, also called "Party Monster." The book actually fills in the some of the holes that documentary leaves, or at least presents a slightly different viewpoint. Watch both the documentary AND read James St. James' book to get a fuller picture of what went on.

Had the budget been bigger this probably could have been a great film, but directors Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey do a great job with their obviously limited budget. It's still a very good documentary.

It's all rather bittersweet. Michael ultimately got what he wanted: to be a legend. It's probably not the kind of legend that he wanted to be, but it's what he became nonetheless.

Ever since I saw the motion picture "Party Monster" (with Seth Green, etc.) I have been totally fascinated with Michael Alig and the ClubKids. So I decided I would give this movie a try. I was so engaged and intreagued, but in a very different way than from the motion picture. It was so real and graphic, it really made the reality and truth of it to come to life. Also it was interesting to compare it to the motion picture to see how they adapted it to the 'bigger' screen. The quality isn't stellar, but from what I understand it was a very low-budget film. But the interviews are interesting, and you get a more detailed explanation of what actually happened, versus the movie that tries to compile it all into a more cinematic format. But overall I really enjoyed it and thought it was very interesting!

This shockumentary/documentary is FANTASTIC! I had been looking for it for quite some time and finally FINALLY found it at the local Indie video store. The Club Kids and their lifestyles were totally fascinating! The doc is not just about the horrific murder of Angel, but about the 'scene' too. It's terrible what happened to Angel, I do not condone what Alig did at all. However, this documentary goes into both stories...the rise and fall of the Club Kid scene, Angel's murder AND the rise and fall of Michael Alig himself.

In my opinion, James St. James is the star of this documentary. Once you see this doc, if you've not already done so...read his book 'Disco Bloodbath'. It's so entertaining and flows with interest and eccentricities that you will not be able to put it down! Definitely a fast read! Then to top it off...you have the film 'Party Monster', where in my opinion James St James takes the cake again! Seth Green is so awesome as JSJ! A previous review claimed that James St. James was just trying to profit from Michael Alig. So What?! This is done everyday. Books/films/docs...someone is always profiting from another's story or wrongdoing. That's the way these stories are told.

This is a FIVE STAR recommendation...on all three...the documentary, the book and the film!

I saw the ShockUMentary and also saw the movie Party Monster. As I went to college in Michael Alig's hometown of South Bend,IN, and being that I am always interested in how and why people become the way they are, I wanted to see how this seemingly average Hoosier evolved into the fabled Club Kid / toast of New York / killer. If I were 17 and back in those days I would probably think he was a god leading me and whoever else to the most fantastic way of life imaginable. But, life can't be a party 24 hours a day, and this is proof positive of it.

It is truly horrifying to see how low a human being can go, and it evokes such anger that they choose this for themselves. Each and every one of the main characters in this glamour world are self destructive, self centered, and desperately crying out for attention. And sure, we've all done something like this in the past whether it's using drugs, dressing wild, or misbehaving somehow, but unlike Michael Alig, we all grow up. And guess what? Being responsible, paying your bills on time, having a job, and DOING something with yourself rather than staying in a constant state of squalid ugliness is COOL!

Something that really bothered me at the end of this documentary was the fact that Alig showed no remorse for what he had done, and the others who were indirectly connected to it didn't express much concern either. Yes, Alig was the only one who committed the crime, but no one said "How terrible ...", "If only ...", "Such a tradgedy ...", etc. The only one who shed a tear for Angel was his brother. Everyone's moved on, but there is clearly a part of Alig that clings to the past and a spark of hope that he can reclaim it. And maybe he will once he gets out, but he'll be a middle aged man hanging around teenagers by then.

Maybe that's the real horror of the story.

Are you into the club scene? This film documents the life of Michael Alig, who began the Club Kid era. From his beginnings in the club scene to interviews with his friends, relatives, and the man himself, Party Monster details Michaels exploits with the Club Kids, including the murder of one of them. This film is not to be missed by club scene addicts. Michael Alig also starred in the movie Shampoo Horns before his arrest for the murder of Angel Melendez.

I don't expect many people to purchase this film without prior knowledge and or prior judgement of Michael Alig's story. If something in all of it grabbed your attention or fascinated you, you will lean towards enjoying the documentary. As with if you loathe Michael and think the whole retelling of the story destroyed the sanctity of Angel's memory you will too loathe the film. The re-enactments are kind of lame and pointless and overall quality isn't A+, so don't expect something award winning. But if you are in love with the story like I am this is a must have, it has great interviews, old footage, and a ton of extra's!

I've watched both "Party Monster" as well as the documentary "Party Monster - The Shockumentary." While I found both interesting I was primarily struck by how much people effort people have gone in order to tell the world how "fabulous" Michael Alig was in his heyday. One gets the impression that the makers of both films, along with the individuals he once associated with, almost think that it was kind of cute that he murdered a friend, dismembered the body, and then jokingly bragged about doing it to people around him.

In the documentary "Angel" is largely dismissed as a disposable individual, hardly worth missing. The only person who actually shed a tear for him being Angel's brother. I really doubt that Angel's brother would have agreed to be interviewed for the documentary if he had known the way they were going to glorify Michael Alig while simultaneously portray his brother as a desperate drug dealing poseur.

I think the film, rather than the documentary, was actually a bit more balanced. Wilson Cruz, Macaulay Culkin, and Chloë Sevigny were all incredible. Their performances were unbelievably good. Seth Green did OK, though all I could think about every time he came on screen was his appearance on Punk'd (for that matter all I could think of when Dylan McDermott came on stage was Bobby Donnel).

Regardless of the agenda, the two films probably complement each other. If I had to watch one of them again I would see the film rather than the "shockumentary" if for no reason than the opportunity to see Chloë Sevigny again.

I still think it is a bit scary when people justify a person's behavior by almost saying "it wasn't his fault: he drugs made him do it"

I like this documentary better than the movie. It was great to see real life footage. It's ashamed of what happened. It's crazy how drugs can influence you to do things you normally wouldn't have. I am a firm believer had Michael not been messed up, none of this would happen. He's a good person, I keep in contact with him and he isn't like they put him out to be.

It's very interesting to see the documentary to one of my favorite movies. I find it fasanating to hear from the people that were really there.

If you are interested in 1990s New York club life, the "club kids", or sordid tales of drugs and murder, this is the DVD to check out.