If you were a teenager in 1999, you probably remember the absolute chaos of the Detroit Rock City marketing blitz. It was supposed to be the "Dazed and Confused" for the KISS generation. You had Edward Furlong at the peak of his post-Terminator 2 fame, a soundtrack full of 70s bangers, and Gene Simmons breathing fire in every promotional clip.
But looking back now, the coolest thing about that movie isn't the KISS cameos or the stoner humor. It’s Natasha Lyonne.
Playing the character Christine Sixteen—a literal wink to the famous KISS track—Lyonne was already establishing the "tough-talking broad" persona that would eventually make her an icon in Russian Doll and Poker Face. Honestly, she’s the best part of the movie. Most people forget she was even in it because she’s so young, but her performance as the disco-loving runaway who ends up joining the four protagonists on their quest to Cobo Hall is pure gold.
The Role of Christine Sixteen Explained
Natasha Lyonne wasn't just a background player in Detroit Rock City. She played Christine, a girl stuck in the middle of a disco-versus-rock-and-roll culture war. When we first meet her, she’s the girlfriend of a massive bully who spends his time terrorizing the four main guys.
But Lyonne doesn't play her as a "damsel." She’s got that signature rasp. She has that "I’ve seen everything" look in her eyes even though she was barely twenty years old at the time.
Basically, her character arc is the soul of the road trip. She ditches her jerk boyfriend, hops in the car with the "burnouts," and ends up getting kidnapped by a pair of criminals (one of whom is played by Kevin Corrigan). The chemistry between her and the guys—specifically Edward Furlong’s character, Hawk—felt real. Because it was.
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The Real-Life Romance with Edward Furlong
What many fans don't realize is that Detroit Rock City was the start of a legendary and somewhat tragic real-life relationship. Natasha Lyonne and Edward Furlong fell in love on this set.
They were the "it" couple of the late-90s indie scene for a minute. You’ve probably seen the old paparazzi photos of them—all leather jackets, messy hair, and cigarettes. They stayed together for a couple of years, but the relationship became a footnote in their respective struggles with addiction during the early 2000s. While Lyonne eventually staged one of the greatest career comebacks in Hollywood history, Furlong’s trajectory was much rockier.
Watching the movie today, you can see the genuine sparks. When Hawk is trying to rescue Christine, it doesn't feel like two actors hitting marks. It feels like two kids who are actually obsessed with each other.
Why Natasha Lyonne Still Matters in 1970s Period Pieces
Director Adam Rifkin went to extreme lengths to make the 1978 setting feel authentic. He even had Gene Simmons acting as a co-producer to ensure the "KISS Army" vibe was spot on. But period pieces often fail because the actors look like they’re wearing costumes.
Lyonne is different. She looks like she actually walked out of a 1978 disco.
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- She captures that specific transition era where disco was "dying" and rock was getting louder.
- Her "crafty tomboyishness" (as some critics called it) balanced out the more slapstick humor of the male leads.
- She managed to make a character named after a song title feel like a human being.
Most people don't know that Lyonne was actually filming American Pie around the same time. In 1999, she was everywhere. She was the "Jessica" who gave advice in the suburbs and the "Christine" who survived a carjacking in Detroit.
A Masterclass in Scene Stealing
There is a scene near the end of the film where Lyonne’s character has to hold her own against two kidnappers while the boys are trying to get into the concert. It’s a ridiculous, crass sequence—typical for a stoner comedy of that era—but she plays it with such a dry, New York wit that it transcends the script.
Critics at the time, like those at Sight & Sound, noted that the film was often "low on warmth." They weren't wrong. A lot of the humor is mean-spirited. But Lyonne provides the warmth. She’s the bridge between the audience and the screen. You actually care if she gets to the concert or not.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Film
If you look at the box office numbers, Detroit Rock City was kind of a flop. It only made about $14 million against a $15 million budget. People think it was a failure because the "KISS craze" was over, but that’s not really it.
The movie was caught in a weird middle ground. It was too "R-rated" for the younger kids who liked KISS at the time, and too "immature" for the adults who had grown up with them. However, it found a massive second life on DVD. This is where the "Natasha Lyonne cult" really started to grow.
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You see her name in the credits and realize: "Wait, that's the girl from Russian Doll."
She was already doing the work. She was already building that "anti-hero" archetype. In an interview with AV Club, Lyonne once mentioned that she’s spent much of her career "stealing from Robert De Niro" and playing "tough guy New York" roles. You can see the blueprint for that in her performance as Christine. She wasn't playing a "girl." She was playing a person who happened to be a girl, which was a pretty radical choice for a teen movie in 1999.
The Legacy of Christine Sixteen
If you're going back to watch Detroit Rock City today, do it for the supporting cast. Aside from Lyonne, you’ve got a young Melanie Lynskey (from Yellowjackets) playing a religious girl named Beth.
It’s wild to see these two powerhouses in a movie that features a scene of a kid getting high on "magic mushrooms" in a confessional booth.
But that’s the magic of 90s cinema. You had these incredible actors paying their dues in weird, loud, messy comedies. Lyonne’s performance is a reminder that there are no small roles. She took a character that could have been a cardboard cutout and turned her into a legend.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you want to fully appreciate Natasha Lyonne’s work in this era, don't just stop at Detroit Rock City. You should watch the "1999 Lyonne Trilogy" to see her range:
- Watch "But I'm a Cheerleader": Released the same year, showing her lead-role potential.
- Re-watch "American Pie": Compare her dry wit as Jessica to her more frantic energy as Christine.
- Find the DVD Commentary for "Detroit Rock City": Adam Rifkin and the cast talk extensively about the chaotic production and how Lyonne’s presence grounded the set.
Looking back, Detroit Rock City is a time capsule. It captures a specific moment in Hollywood when Natasha Lyonne was the coolest person in the room—a title she still holds today. Just remember, next time you hear that KISS song, it's not just about a sixteen-year-old girl; it's about the actress who stole the show.