Party Monster: The Shockumentary

Party Monster: The Shockumentary is a sensationalistic documentary that chronicles the lives of New York City club kids in the late 1980s and 1990s. Directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the film centers around Michael Alig, a notorious party promoter, and his circle of friends, including Gitsie and James St. James.

The film begins with Alig's rise to fame as the ringleader of the Club Kids, a group of flamboyant, hedonistic partygoers who frequented the city's hottest nightclubs. Alig is portrayed as a larger-than-life figure, with a penchant for outrageous costumes, wild antics, and copious amounts of drugs. Through interviews with Alig and his contemporaries, the filmmakers depict the Club Kids' decadent lifestyle, filled with sex, drugs, and general debauchery.

As the documentary progresses, the filmmakers delve deeper into Alig's world, exposing the dark underbelly of the Club Kids' scene. They detail Alig's involvement in the drug world, including his frequent use of heroin and his role in the death of his drug dealer, Angel Melendez. The film examines the aftermath of Melendez's murder, including Alig's eventual conviction and imprisonment for the crime.

Beyond Alig's personal story, the documentary also offers a glimpse into the broader cultural context of the era. The filmmakers showcase the Club Kids' impact on the fashion and music scenes, as well as their influence on New York City's nightlife culture. Through interviews with DJs, designers, and other members of the club scene, Party Monster portrays the Club Kids as a group of creative, boundary-pushing individuals who were ahead of their time.

Despite the documentary's often sensationalistic approach, Party Monster does offer insight into the complex personalities and motivations of the Club Kids. The filmmakers humanize Alig and his associates, presenting them not as mere caricatures, but as individuals with complex emotional lives. Through interviews with Alig's mother and father, as well as other family members and friends, the film explores the factors that led to Alig's eventual downfall.

Overall, Party Monster: The Shockumentary offers a fascinating look into a largely forgotten subculture of the 1990s. It sheds light on the excesses and recklessness of the era, while also highlighting the creativity and originality of the Club Kids' scene. Despite its flaws, the documentary is a compelling portrait of a tumultuous moment in New York City's history.