Mondo New York

Mondo New York is a 1988 documentary in the mondo tradition, directed by Harvey Nikolai Keith and inspired by the 1963 film Mondo Cane. The film focuses on Manhattan performance artists, featuring figures such as Joey Arias and Rick Aviles. A young woman’s journey through the city links various sketches populated by other New York performers, including Charlie Barnett, Joe Coleman, Phoebe Legere, Karen Finley, Lydia Lunch, Veronica Vera, Frank Moore, and Ann Magnuson. Stuart S. Shapiro produced the film.

Critical reception was mixed. Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times rated the film Adult for offensive language and repulsive situations, noting it has some value as an uncensored record of controversial performance artists but largely expects viewers to react like bored voyeurs watching a geek. Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader described the film as a walk on the wild side through New York’s seamier byways, featuring cockfights, junkies, street hookers, S&M club habitués, and outre acts—including Ann Magnuson beating a dead horse, Karen Finley decorating herself with raw eggs and glitter, Joe Coleman biting the head off a mouse while nearly exploding with firecrackers, and Dean Johnson performing in drag with his band, the Weenies.