The Toxic Avenger

A remake that neither replicates nor ignores the original. Plenty of knowing jokes (New Chem High School, the St Roma's Village location, with both esses faded) and an opening animation that will feel familiar.

Peter Dinklage and Kevin Bacon having the time of their lives; Jacob Tremblay and Taylor Paige a solid rhythm section; but Elijah Wood in a sadly derivative role (Penguin / Minions bad guy). A band of musician assassins - think Insane Clown Posse / Slipknot - provide slapstick, and a subplot involving the primary villain being in hock to worse villains was entertaining.

No real attempt at moral nuance or intellectual rigour - I loved the doctor explaining the technical stuff - but great fun and well worth the time and ticket money.

Short review: Sometimes the only key to a films success is knowing exactly what it is, what it needs to do, and committing to the concept. 'The Toxic Avenger' knows exactly what it has to do to be successful. It has to be a little campy, not take itself too seriously, have some truly great kill scenes and keep the accelerator down at a non-stop pace. It does all those things and for that reason, a film that wouldn't usually be to my taste, was a very fun experience.

You can tell that the cast were having a blast making this. Every one of them seems to be given complete freedom to be as over the top and outrageous as they like. And they flourish. This was a fun one. 7/10.

(Republish of September 2023 review which was deleted).

All of last year, I was certain that this movie wasn't ever going to be released and that was a disappointing notion. When I found out that it was going to be released in theaters unrated, I perked up.

I wouldn't say this was a hugely anticipated movie for me but I was excited. I just saw it a few hours ago and I've gotta say that it's just barely above average. The biggest problem with this movie is that a huge majority of the jokes in this movie fall flat and leave an awkward impression. It also didn't help that the tone and pacing for this movie was an absolute mess as well.

That being said, I was never bored or put off by the film. There's an amazing display of gore (even if it's hugely CGI) and sight gags as well. The whole cast also hams it the hell up which is a big plus.

I didn't hate the new Toxic Avenger but it's definitely nothing special.

C+

There are few movie characters who embody the role of "underdog" as fully as the Toxic Avenger. A lowly janitor at a chemical facility who is thrown into the slime by his nefarious bosses, he emerges as a mutant with superhuman strength and a glowing mop which is able to corrode human skin on contact.

A remake of the surprise 1984 hit from Troma Studios, this film is nothing if not inspirational. Peter Dinklage is mesmerizing in the title role, particularly in the early scenes before he is transformed into the creature. I can't help thinking that his performance was subdued by the heavy prosthetic make-up he wears in the later scenes. Also outstanding are Kevin Bacon as the scheming boss at the chemical plant and Elijah Wood as his creepy brother - who reminded me of the character of Riff Raff from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I watched The Toxic Avenger (2023) in theaters this evening. The storyline follows a widowed single dad raising his stepson who learns from his doctor that he has only six months to a year to live. Desperate for help, he turns to the owner of his company for treatment but is rejected, setting him on a path of revenge, transformation, and vengeance.

This film is directed by Macon Blair (I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore) and stars Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Kevin Bacon (Friday the 13th), Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings), Taylour Paige (Zola), and Jacob Tremblay (Doctor Sleep).

This movie gave me exactly what I wanted. It has the perfect blend of Hobo with a Shotgun and Class of Nuke 'Em High. I was glad it wasn't a straight remake but instead took the story in a fresh new direction. The characters, setting, and premise pull you right into its universe, delivering that gritty mix of grindhouse, horror, comedy, and sci-fi that you expect from a Toxic Avenger / Troma Entertainment production.

The acting hits the right notes, the storyline has more depth than expected, and the villains are perfectly over the top. The special effects shine with a great mix of practical work and CGI-the opening "arm" sequence, the Miss Meat Dinner scene, every battle with "Killer Nuts," and the climactic showdown gave me everything I was hoping for. I also loved the opening narration, the animation, and of course, the soundtrack.

If I had any complaints, I would have liked more from the transformation scene, and while some of the CGI was excellent, other moments felt uneven. Still, overall this film delivered exactly what I was looking for...and stay for the after credits.

In conclusion, The Toxic Avenger is far better than it has any right to be-a fun, modern reimagining of a cult classic. I'd score it a solid 7.5/10.