This is the afterparty for the locally produced apocalyptic horror
movie Cthulhu, a film that books (and Party Crasher) editor Paul
Constant just so happened to completely trash in the pages of The Stranger. Before my mission, Constant warns via
e-mail that cowriter-director Grant Cogswell is not happy about the
review, and while I “won’t get beat up,” people might “act weirdly”
toward me.
Thankfully, when a friend and I arrive at More Dust Than Digital, a
studio above the Neptune Theatre, Cogswell is only a little pissed
about the review and welcomes us enthusiastically. Although his
invitation had said to arrive after 10:00 p.m., and it’s not quite
11:00, Cogswell informs us that we’ve missed the party’s peak. Small
pockets of people are spread throughout the studio’s numerous nooks and
crannies, which are all quite sterile and well-kept—more
digital than dust. Christmas lights strung about the walls glow among
sleeping computer screens. The hosts generously offer us what’s left of
the dwindling beer supply.
Little of the conversation is focused on Cthulhu or its
aforementioned review, and although Cogswell is heard to mention the
phrase “unnecessary roughness” several times throughout the slowing
festivities, he seems more eager to talk about future projects, which
are reportedly already in the works. Before long, the fridge is empty
and we’re resigned to cheap red wine in plastic cups, one of the
best hangover recipes known to man. Conversation becomes lethargic.
A couple sneaks off on a beer run and returns just in time with two
magical red, white, and blue boxes, and after that, all we remember
are the laughs. 
Want to act weirdly toward The Stranger at your house
party? E-mail the date, place, time, and party details to
partycrasher@thestranger.com.
