Based on a real twist of events, Culkin played “King of the Club Kids” Michael Aligwho spent nearly 17 years in prison for manslaughter after he and Robert “Freeze” Riggs killed and dismembered another New York nightlife lover Andre “Angel” Melendez in 1996. Riggs was also in jail for manslaughter.
To prepare for the role, Culkin visited Alig behind bars and told the story Barbara Walters 2003: “We spent four hours in jail. I had never been in jail before. I just listened and watched his hands move … He made me, the wild and crazy guy, the ‘Michael Alig’ -Act staged. “
When asked if he also had a dark side, the then 25-year-old actor said: “You can say that. But not nearly as dark as him. That vicious little, you know, blond-haired kid who makes everyone trouble. “
He also reminded Bunny Ears of the glam rock look that was essential for Michael: “I always felt pretty, but that’s when I learned that I’m actually pretty. It was worth it and I looked great. “
Culkin, who appeared in his first film since Richie Rich, acknowledged his long hiatus from the limelight, telling Walters, “I don’t want to do what I did before on the line … you loved to have built an industry out of me. It was just this really strange dynamic that I think made me feel uncomfortable for much of my young life. I’m not one of those people who need that satisfaction like 10 films a year … I’m just trying to be an artist. “
