photo courtesy of content films Macaulay Culkin (left) likes to do a little acting between his sleepovers at Neverland Ranch and appearing in Sonic Youth videos. See the fruits of his infrequent labor in the film, "Party Monster," about the early '90s club scene in New York City.

Mac is back! And he's worse than ever!

How could a cute little boy actor turn into such a frighteningly bad adult one?

Perhaps Macaulay Culkin, now 23, was never good. Perhaps "Home Alone" isn't the masterpiece I recall from my childhood, because Culkin's new movie, "Party Monster," is more like a piece of garbage.

In this true story, Michael Alig (Culkin) and James St. James (Seth Green) are '90s Club Kids who party at raves, wear outlandish costumes and overdose on drugs and sex. The Club Kid movement is stationed in New York, where the coolest of the bunch become quasi-celebrities comparable to today's reality television stars.

Alig, an outcast in his hometown, moves to New York to get involved in the scene. James, the original Club Kid, shows him how to act "fabulous" all the time. Soon after, he becomes a top party promoter and rises to the top of the Club Kids.

He throws gaudy theme parties that take place in anything from a nightclub to a fast food restaurant. Though Alig wants to welcome all the freaks of New York no matter how strange they are, the Club Kids create their own system of elitism along the way.

While James seems to have some sort of grasp on the real world, Alig is so wrapped up in his life of excess that nothing gets treated seriously. He chooses to ignore the drug, police and financial problems that run rampant in his life. Eventually he murders his drug dealer, but never gives up his flamboyant, childish demeanor.

The movie goes on and on, documenting the life of Alig rather than finding an interesting narrative for his character. This can be easily explained because filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey made the "Party Monster" documentary in 1998.

Barbato and Bailey may not have the skills of narrative filmmakers, especially since they had all the resources to make a great movie and failed. The characters are quirky but fascinating, and Green ("The Italian Job") tops a list of competent actors that includes Chlo‘ Sevigny ("Boys Don't Cry"), Dylan McDermott ("The Practice") and Wilder Valderrama ("That '70s Show"). And the book that most of the story is based on, James' "Disco Bloodbath," provides ample material for a powerful film that does justice to this New York movement.

But what about Culkin in his first film since 1994's "Richie Rich?" Monotone at some points and overly exaggerated at others, he seems a bit rusty. The character of Alig is not easy to portray, and thankfully you don't notice the glaringly bad acting by the end of the movie.

Or maybe the bad acting is the point. Maybe Culkin is phenomenal and Alig is the one who was a poor actor, playing a part to be accepted by the Club Kids.

Or maybe Steven Seagal possessed Culkin during the filming.

Or maybe you should just skip this movie.