News

By Seth Metoyer,

MoreHorror.com

More holiday horror for you who can't get enough. Nothing says the holidays like felons turned into reindeer while on the run and killer carolers on the loose. From the masters of horror at Blumhouse, a holiday anthology series like you’ve never seen before. It’s going to be a ho-ho-horrific time on YouTube Red this season.

12 Deadly Days, a holiday-themed horror-comedy series, will debut exclusively on YouTube Red in partnership with Blumhouse Television on 12/12/16. The series features 12 twisted tales, starring top YouTube creators and some of horror’s most seasoned actors.

Check out the official trailer below the press release.

From The Press Release

YouTube and Emmy Award-winning Blumhouse Television today announced that they have partnered on a new half hour horror-comedy series called “12 Deadly Days.” Over the course of a dozen interconnected tales, the residents of Saturn, CA find themselves terrorized by...

After 30 years of anticipation and 4 years in the making, a pedigree is born! An Almost True Story: Toxic Tutu premieres March 25, 2017 at Mad Monster Party Carolina. A fan-made film, it serves as a companion to the original cult-classic horror-comedy, The Toxic Avenger, a Troma Entertainment release directed by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz back in 1984 that went onto become a cultural phenomenon and spawned its own franchise, which included multiple movies and an animated series.

More than 30 years after starring in Troma Entertainment's cult classic horror-comedy The Toxic Avenger, Mark Torgl, Aka Melvin the 'Mop Boy', suddenly resurfaces at a horror-fan Cosplay convention. But before he can explain his prolonged obscurity to his fans Mark is abducted by masked gunmen. And for what? A contaminant-rich toxic oasis a select few know exists.

The convention erupts into chaos as the rumor mill swirls: There's been an unexpected find. Toxic...

It’s a match made in stoner-heaven! Deadline reports that a live-action remake of Troma’s hilariously gruesome B-movie, The Toxic Avenger, is being developed at Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein’s Storyscape Entertainment, with Sausage Party co-helmer Conrad Vernon on board to direct. Arnold Schwarzenegger was actually attached to star in an earlier incarnation, but has since walked away.

For those in need of a Toxie history lesson, the original was a 1984 horror comedy directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman for Troma Entertainment. The story focused on a nerdy janitor named Melvin, who falls into a toxic waste drum and emerges as a hideously deformed, freakishly strong superhero. The film was virtually ignored upon its release, but has since become regarded as a cult classic, spawning several sequels, comic books and even a short-lived animated series.

Here’s what Vernon had to say about signing on to helm...

Deadline reports that Sausage Party co-director Conrad Vernon has signed on to direct The Toxic Avenger remake. Writers Mike Arnold and Chris Poole are rewriting the screenplay from Steve Pink and D.C. Mitchell.

Akiva Goldsman and Charlie Corwin of Weed Road will produce the film alongside Richard Saperstein of Storyscape Entertainment. The Toxic Avenger Creators Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz will serve as executive producers on the remake.

The Toxic Avenger was a B-movie horror/comedy that was released in 1984 and told the story of a mop boy named Melvin who works at a local health club. After being humiliated by the cool kids in town, Melvin accidentally falls into a barrel of toxic waste which transforms him into a grotesque monster who becomes the superhero known as The Toxic Avenger.

Because of Sausage Party co-director Conrad Vernon, moviegoers will never look at groceries the same way. The filmmaker's next project will take him from store aisles to the town of Tromaville, as Vernon is now set to helm the remake of 1984's The Toxic Avenger.

Variety (via Deadline) reports that Vernon will direct The Toxic Avenger remake from a screenplay by Mike Arnold and Chris Poole, who will rewrite a previous remake script penned by D.C. Mitchell and Steve Pink. In addition to co-writing the prior script for the remake, Pink was at one point lined up to direct the film as well.

For those unfamiliar with the beloved Troma film, The Toxic Avenger followed bullied janitor Melvin Ferd, who fell into toxic waste after being pursued by his tormentors, only to rise from certain death and become transformed into a disfigured defender of Tromaville.

Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz,...

After gestating in development for nearly six years, The Toxic Avenger remake is finally moving forward with a new director. Conrad Vernon, who co-directed the hit R-rated animated comedy Sausage Party, has signed on to direct. Mike Arnold (Archer) and Chris Poole (The Grackle) have come aboard to rewrite the script for this long-awaited remake, which was first written by the project's original director, Steve Pink and D.C. Franklin.

Deadline says this new version is a more grounded and mainstream approach to The Toxic Avenger, which first hit theaters in 1984 from director Lloyd Kaufman. The story followed a New Jersey teenager named Melvin, a nerdy janitor who falls into a vat of hazardous waste, which transforms him into The Toxic Avenger. Here's what Conrad Vernon had to say in a statement about joining this project.

"The opportunity to re-imagine a favorite cult-classic from my high school years is an honor.

By Ernie Magnotta

While working at the Tromaville Health Club in 1984, goodhearted, 98lb. weakling Melvin “The Mop Boy” was tricked into wearing a pink tutu and teased unmercifully until he fell from a two-story window and landed in a vat of nuclear waste. The toxic chemicals changed little Melvin, transforming him into a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength. Melvin became The Toxic Avenger, the first superhero from New Jersey!

Written and Directed by the great Lloyd Kaufman (and co-directed by his partner-in-slime, Michael Herz), The Toxic Avenger, which is a thoroughly entertaining and unique combination of the superhero genre, raunchy and over-the-top comedy, as well as full-on horror movie-type gore, not only became an instant hit, but singlehandedly built Troma films (Toxie is the company’s mascot much like Spider-man is to Marvel Comics). The Toxic Avenger character became so popular that, over the years, fans were...

Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week

"Locke"

What's It About? Tom Hardy stars as a construction foreman who's driving to London to attend the birth of his child. You really shouldn't have stressful conversations on your cell while driving, but Ivan (Hardy) doesn't care. He has to make sure his big job tomorrow goes as planned, confess to his wife that he cheated on her with a co-worker, and coaching the aforementioned co-worker through the premature birth of their baby. Yikes.

Why We're In: Hardy is more than capable of commanding the screen for the entirety of the movie. Although you hear other characters' voices, it's all Hardy, all the time. Who could argue with that?

Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week

"Love Streams" (Criterion)

What's It About? John Cassavetes and real-life wife Gena Rowlands star as siblings who turn to each other for support after being left by everyone else in their lives.

Stars: Mark Torgl, Mitch Cohen, Andree Maranda, Cindy Manion, Gary Schneider, Robert Prichard, Pat Ryan, Dick Martinsen, Patrick Kilpatrick | Written by Lloyd Kaufman, Joe Ritter | Directed by Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman (as Samuel Weil)

For those who haven’t seen The Toxic Avenger, first of all why not? (stop reading this review and go pre-order the Blu-ray now), it is essentially the film that made Troma. Having picked up numerous films for distribution and being predominantly known for sex comedies such as Squeeze Play, Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman decided to lense their own horror film and thus The Toxic Avenger was born; in turn Troma became known for campy, over the top, “horror” movies and the rest, they say, is history.

The film tells the story of Melvin Junko, a health club janitor who is the butt of a cruel joke that goes horribly wrong after he is tricked...

Troma is prepping a new high-definition release of The Toxic Avenger. Restored from the original film materials, the Blu-ray release will also be loaded with special features and we have details on what you can expect, along with a look at the cover art:

“Welcome to Tromaville, New Jersey — a small American town, terrorized by criminals. The town’s corrupt mayor sits idly by while muggers, robbers and teenage punks victimize helpless citizens. Among the residents of Tromaville is Melvin, a nerdy, emaciated janitor at the local health club. That is, until he becomes The Toxic Avenger!

A gang of thugs devise a cruel hoax that goes horribly wrong as Melvin is cast through a third story window and into a vat of hazardous toxic waste. However, an unexpected metamorphosis takes place. As the chemicals take hold of his body, Melvin turns into the Toxic Avenger, doer of good and brutal mauler of evil!

Were you aware that 2014 marks the 30th anniversary of the quintessential Troma movie The Toxic Avenger? Lloyd Kaufman has announced a fully loaded high-def Blu-ray is on the way, and while we don’t have a street date yet, we do have a list of extras.

Synopsis:

Welcome to Tromaville, New Jersey -- a small American town, terrorized by criminals. The town's corrupt mayor sits idly by while muggers, robbers, and teenage punks victimize helpless citizens.

Among the residents of Tromaville is Melvin, a nerdy, emaciated janitor at the local health club. That is, until he becomes The Toxic Avenger!

A gang of thugs devise a cruel hoax that goes horribly wrong as Melvin is cast through a third story window and into a vat of hazardous toxic waste. However, an unexpected metamorphosis takes place. As the chemicals take hold of his body, Melvin turns into the Toxic Avenger, doer...

Something we find fascinating about some of our favorite horror flicks is the fact that the heroes and heroines are sometimes the last person you would peg as the sole hope for humanity. Never once have I taken a trip to the grocery store and thought the gum-chewing clerk ringing up the new issue of GQ and a bag of Meow Mix for me is going to some day save me from the zombie apocalypse, demonic possession, or a blood-thirsty pack of lycanthropes. But, the fact of the matter is that the seemingly unassuming store clerk may be the only hope for humanity. He or she may just have the cunning and instinct of a fox, the wit of a college professor and the strength of a competitive bodybuilder. But, their exceptional skill set may be lying dormant, waiting to be awoken by unforeseen catastrophe or malady. Such has been...

The reboot of the 1980s cult film Toxic Avenger has Arnold Schwarzenegger in talks. Steve Pink and Daniel C. Mitchell wrote the script for the film which is being produced by Elysium Films as well as Richard Saperstein, Akiva Goldsman, Charlie Corwin and Michael Benaroya. The story follows Melvin Ferd III, a skinny, feeble guy who falls into toxic waste and transforms into a creature who fights crime. Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman directed the original film which starred Andrew Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Babtist, Cindy Manion and Robert Prichard. There were three films: The Toxic Avenger (1984), The Toxic Avenger Part II (1989) and The Toxic Avenger: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989).

Website It's on the Grid lists John Travolta as .attached. to "Toxic Avenger", the Steve Pink-directed remake of the Troma classic about a mutated superhero. Pink is directing for Troma from a screenplay he wrote with Daniel C. Mitchell. Charlie Corwin, Akiva Goldsman, Richard Saperstein, Lloyd Kaufman, and Michael Herz all produce. Here's the original 1986 plot: .This is the story of Melvin, the Tromaville Health Club mop boy, who inadvertently and naively trusts the hedonistic, contemptuous and vain health club members, to the point of accidentally ending up in a vat of toxic waste. The devastating results then have a transmogrification effect, his alter ego is released, and the Toxic Avenger is born, to deadly and comical results. The local mop boy is now the local Superhero,...

We haven't heard anything about The Toxic Avenger remake since November 2010, when Steve Pink signed on to direct. Today, we have word that John Travolta may be attached to star. There is no word on whom he will be playing if this rumor is correct, though he seems a tad old to be taking on the title role.

Troma Films principals Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz directed the original version of The Toxic Avenger in 1984. The story centers on a janitor named Melvin, who is tormented by the muscle-bound jocks that go to his gym. One day, they dump Melvin into a vat of toxic waste, transforming him into an enormous but deformed creature, who vows to rid his New Jersey streets of criminals and thugs. Here is a brief logline for the remake, that indicates the campy aspects of the original will be no more.

"Action-comedy remake in the vein of The Mask.

Actor and 747 pilot John Travolta has been reportedly attached to The Toxic Avenger, the Steve Pink-directed remake of the Troma classic comedy about a mutated superhero and it’s not an early April Fool’s joke.

According to industry tracking website It’s On The Grid Travolta is indeed attached to the remake of Lloyd Kaufman’s Toxic Avenger, which Pink will write with Daniel C. Mitchell.

Here’s the original 1986 synopsis:

This is the story of Melvin, the Tromaville Health Club mop boy, who inadvertently and naively trusts the hedonistic, contemptuous and vain health club members, to the point of accidentally ending up in a vat of toxic waste. The devastating results then have a transmogrification effect, his alter ego is released, and the Toxic Avenger is born, to deadly and comical results. The local mop boy is now the local Superhero, the saviour of corruption, thuggish bullies and indifference.

Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to the worthwhile titles currently available on Netflix Instant Watch.

Coming to theaters Friday is a time-traveling action star, a wrench-wielding superhero, a haunted house horror flick, and a circus-centered family drama. You can take the action home with a selection of streaming films that feature ghastly ghosts, colorful clowns, besotted baddies and courageous chrononauts!

—

Source Code

Duncan Jones’ trippy time-traveling follow-up to his freaky sci-fi feature Moon stars Jake Gyllenhaal as a soldier on a mission to stop the bombing on a Chicago commuter train that has already happened. How does he manage that? By stepping back into the past and into the body of a victim of the crash, obviously! Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga co-star.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) If you like your double-features weirdly specific, pair Source Code with...

Troma Entertainment's Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz are fully behind the upcoming remake of their 1984 cult hit The Toxic Avenger, but in an interesting twist, they are shooting a true sequel at the moment which they hope will coincide with the remake's release.

Lloyd Kaufman is directing for the first time since 2006's Poultrygeist, bringing the environmentally conscious superhero Toxie back to the big screen for his fifth outing in Toxic Twins: The Toxic Avenger V. Troma regular Lemmy, from Motorhead, is rumored to be appearing in the film, which stars Lloyd Kaufman's own daughter Charlotte Kaufman and Music and Lyrics's Suzi Lorraine. The storyline picks up directly after Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV, and follows Toxie's adventures in fatherhood.

Suzi Lorraine recently released a couple of photos from the New York-based set, which give us a look at Toxie's twin sons.

In related news, director...

Director Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine) has signed on to direct the upcoming remake of The Toxic Avenger. The 1984 Troma cult classic told the unforgettable story of Melvin, a nerdy mop boy, who becomes a deformed superhero (and ladies man) after falling into some vats of toxic waste. According to Deadline, Pink will be writing the film with Daniel C. Mitchell. Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, who created the original film, will be coming on board as producers. As a person who grew up watching the original the film, I have to say that it’ll be interesting to see if Pink will keep the film’s over the top gore, nudity, and crude humor, or if he will decide to make the film into some kind of superhero satire/spoof. You can hit the jump to read the plot synopsis and watch the trailer for the original film...

Exclusive: Hot Tub Time Machine director Steve Pink will helm the remake of The Toxic Avenger, which he'll write with Daniel C. Mitchell. Deadline revealed last April that remake rights to the Troma Films seminal title were acquired by producers Akiva Goldsman, Richard Saperstein and Charlie Corwin. That package was expansive and included the 1984 original, four sequels, an animated TV series and comic books. Corwin's Original Media, which is a partnership with Dutch reality TV maker Endemol, is funding development of what the makers call an environmentally-conscious action-comedy. In the original, the protagonist is a mop-wielding simpleton named Melvin, whose trusting ways made him easy prey for gym thugs who tossed him into a vat of toxic waste. The transformation into Toxie didn't help his complexion, but gave him rippling muscles to wreak havoc on New Jersey polluters. The byproduct was that despite his misshapen appearance, the chicks finally...

Steve Pink, the man behind Hot Tub Time Machine , has come aboard the remake of The Toxic Avenger , reports Deadline . Pink will not only direct but will, alongside, Daniel C. Mitchell, provide the script. The original film was set in Tromaville, New Jersey - a small American town, terrorized by criminals. Among the residents of Tromaville is Melvin, a nerdy emaciated janitor at the local health club. A gang of thugs devise a cruel hoax that goes horribly wrong as Melvin is cast through a third story window into a vat of hazardous toxic waste. However, an unexpected metamorphosis takes place. As the chemicals take hold of his body, Melvin turns into the Toxic Avenger, doer of good, and brutal mauler of evil. Directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman, the original launched...

In an event described as "a B-movie jamboree of awesomeness", the Polly Staffle Grindhouse Fest - informally known as the Pollygrind - launches this Wednesday until May 16 at the Sci-Fi Center (2520 State Street) in Las Vegas.

Thirteen films and more than 31 trailers, music videos and shorts will play the PollyGrind, described by Vampires.com as "one of the biggest events for grindhouse and trash film lovers this year."

Organiser Chad Clinton Freeman said: "The festival is being put on in the same spirit as old-school grindhouse cinema - no funding and creatively using whatever is available.

"With that said, I think the line-up turned out rather nicely and I think everyone that comes out will enjoy what William Powell's Sci-Fi Center and the PollyGrind have to offer."

Five features will have their world premieres at the event. John R. Hand's sci-fi arthouse film Scars of Youth (pictured above...

In Dread Central's effort to promote independent horror, have we got the goods on a great horror film festival in Las Vegas! From May 12-16th Sci-Fi Center at 2520 State Street, Las Vegas, Nv 89109, will be hosting The Polly Staffle Grindhouse Fest (aka PollyGrind), which includes 30 different films with five world premieres, seven Las Vegas premieres, and one U.S. premiere. There will also be a ton of music videos and trailers and more horror-related goods for you to feast your eyes on.

Read on for the full line-up, and look for more from Dread Central on PollyGrind (click here for the official site) soon!

Wednesday, May 12

Post-apocalyptic Nightmares (Double Feature)

Hosted By Heather Wixson Of Dreadcentral.Com

5:30 p.m.

Vendor tables open

7 p.m.

Trailer - Michael Ramova’s Soldier Killer (30 seconds) (World Premiere)

Trailer - Michael Ramova’s The Texas Chainsaw Champion (1:23 minutes) (World Premiere)

Trailer...

A remake of "The Toxic Avenger" is in the works and will be produced by Akiva Goldsman, Richard Saperstein and Charlie Corwin. Original Media has acquired the rights to franchise that includes sequels, an animated TV series and comic books. The company will finance the development of a script. Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman directed the 1984 original, which starred Andree Maranda, Mitchell Cohen, Pat Ryan Jr., Jennifer Baptist, Robert Pritchard, Cindy Manion, Gary Schneider and Mark Torgl. The film is set in Tromaville, New Jersey - a small American town, terrorized by criminals. Among the residents of Tromaville is Melvin, a nerdy emaciated janitor at the local health club. A gang of thugs devise a cruel hoax that goes horribly wrong as Melvin is cast through a third story window...

What do the film franchises Rocky, Rambo, Saw, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Star Wars, Final Destination and Police Academy all have in common? If you said they all had way more sequels, reboots and remakes than they deserved, then you were right (except Rambo and Rocky because I loved the last two films from those franchises.)

Soon to be joining those ranks is the 80s iconic B-movie anti-hero The Toxic Avenger. According to Deadline, Original Media has partnered up with the Dutch TV company Endemol and acquired the rights to the franchise which includes 4 sequels, and animated TV series and a comic book line. The remake/reboot of the film will be financed by Original Media and will be produced by Charles Corwin (who owns Original Media), Richard Saperstein and Akiva Goldsman.

The Toxic Avenger creator Lloyd Kaufman will co-produce with Herz Kay and Shara Kay while Kerry Foster of...

Believe it or not, even Lloyd Kaufman is not immune to the Hollywood remake bug. A company called Original Media has just picked up the rights to Troma's flagship character The Toxic Avenger, with plans to re-invent him as "a green superhero for these environmentally conscious times." The movie will be produced by Akiva Goldsman (I Am Legend, The Losers), Richard Saperstein (Hancock) and Charlie Corwin (The Squid and the Whale, Half Nelson). They are calling it a "family friendly PG-13 action comedy akin to The Mask." The 1984 original is a cult classic that spawned three sequels, about a nerdy gym janitor named Melvin who gets exposed to radioactive waste and transforms into a massive yet deformed superhero. This isn't the first time Toxie has been given the family-friendly treatment; back in the early '90s there was an animated series spin-off called The Toxic Crusaders. Strange as it might sound,...

A remake of The Toxic Avenger is in the works and will be produced by Akiva Goldsman, Richard Saperstein and Charlie Corwin. Original Media has acquired the rights to franchise that includes sequels, an animated TV series and comic books. The company will finance the development of a script. Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman directed the 1984 original, which starred Andree Maranda, Mitchell Cohen, Pat Ryan Jr., Jennifer Baptist, Robert Pritchard, Cindy Manion, Gary Schneider and Mark Torgl. The film is set in Tromaville, New Jersey - a small American town, terrorized by criminals. Among the residents of Tromaville is Melvin, a nerdy emaciated janitor at the local health club. A gang of thugs devise a cruel hoax that goes horribly wrong as Melvin is cast through a third story...

A remake of The Toxic Avenger is in the works and will be produced by Akiva Goldsman, Richard Saperstein and Charlie Corwin. Original Media has acquired the rights to franchise that includes sequels, an animated TV series and comic books. The company will finance the development of a script. Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman directed the 1984 original, which starred Andree Maranda, Mitchell Cohen, Pat Ryan Jr., Jennifer Baptist, Robert Pritchard, Cindy Manion, Gary Schneider and Mark Torgl. The film is set in Tromaville, New Jersey - a small American town, terrorized by criminals. Among the residents of Tromaville is Melvin, a nerdy emaciated janitor at the local health club. A gang of thugs devise a cruel hoax that goes horribly wrong as Melvin is cast through a third story...

The Toxic Avenger goes greenOriginal Media is planning to remake 1984's The Toxic Avenger about a green, environmentally conscious superhero, acquiring rights to the franchise that includes four sequels, an animated TV series and comic books.

According to Deadline, the film will be produced by Akiva Goldsman, Richard Saperstein and Charlie Corwin.

Lloyd Kaufman directed the 1984 original, which starred Andree Maranda, Mitchell Cohen, Pat Ryan Jr., Cindy Manion, Gary Schneider and Mark Torgl.

The original film revolved around a Tromaville Health Club mop boy Melvin, who was a gentle wimp whose trusting ways made him easy prey for gym thugs and eventually got him immersed in a vat of toxic waste. The radioactive swill transformed Melvin into Toxie, a misshapen superhero who wreaks havoc on polluters in New Jersey and whose improved muscle tone improved his standing with the chicks.

The remake is expected to be a family friendly PG-13 action comedy.

Troma's Toxic Avenger has long been one of the signature characters of Lloyd Kaufman's low-budget, schlocky and gory stable of films. Since the first film in 1984, Toxie has both lampooned horror films and culture at large and offered up some silly, gory entertainment. Not that it's ever been particularly sharp satire, but the movies are fun and sometimes memorable in their eagerness to shock. So, of course, Akiva Goldsman and a couple other producers have picked up the rights to create a new film. The goal? PG-13 adventures. Deadline reports that, driven in part by good reception to the off-Broadway Toxic Avenger stage musical, which I've heard is legitimately entertaining, "the group intends to turn Toxie into a green superhero for these environmentally conscious times." So, the original film had a 98lb weakling janitor, Melvin, who was constantly belittled by the customers at the gym where he works. In particular,...

Schlocktastic Troma studios creation The Toxic Avenger – or “Toxie” as he’s lovingly known, is set to return in all new adventures thanks to a seemingly unlikely source – producer Akiva Goldsman.Originally created by Troma founders Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, the camp icon has his origin story in Melvin, a gentle wimp who cleans at the Tromaville Health Club. A lonely target for jocks and other tough types, he gets his chance at payback – and heroism when he’s immersed in a vat of toxic waste.Soon, the mop-wielding warrior is sorting out the bullies and fighting crime, not to mention wooing the ladies despite looking like a human-shaped mound of pond scum.He's been featured in several movies and at least one cartoon series, and now Goldsman and fellow producers Richard Saperstein and Charlie Corwin have nabbed the rights thanks to a finance deal with Endemol, the conglomerate...

I had mostly forgotten about The Toxic Avenger until I walked into the living room about a week ago and noticed my husband watching it. I've only seen it once, and that was about 20 years ago, but I knew immediately which movie it was. There's something about Toxie that you don't forget. I saw it in college and was simultaneously amused and appalled by the scene of vengeance in the fast-food joint. It was one of my first experiences with campy horror/comedy films.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you're in luck -- SlashControl has made The Toxic Avenger available for you to watch from your computer, for free. This is the first time I've had to supply my age in order to watch a film online -- this is very definitely Not For Kids. Trust me. The 1984 film was the first hit for Lloyd Kaufman's notorious Troma Entertainment,...

Dancap Presents The Toxic Avenger at The Music Hall! In a surprise announcement, Dancap Productions is planning to present the Canadian Premiere of The Toxic Avenger, an eco-monster musical comedy based on the 1984 Lloyd Kaufman classic cult film.  The Canadian production will take place at the 998-seat Music Hall on Danforth Avenue, which is currently undergoing renovations to accommodate the show.

Melvin Ferd the Third wants to clean up Tromaville, the most polluted town in New Jersey (just off Exit 13B on the Turnpike). Foiled by the on-the-take mayor's bullies, Melvin is dumped into a vat of radioactive toxic waste, only to reemerge as The Toxic Avenger, New Jersey's first superhero.

Toxie, is a seven-foot mutant freak with superhuman strength and a heart as big as Newark. He's out to save New Jersey, end global warming and woo the prettiest, blindest librarian in town, in a toxic love story with an environmental twist.

While there are no mainstream horror releases this week, it's a Huge week for fans of under-the-radar titles, vintage frights, indie and international horror.

There's quite a few re-issues, some titles hitting Blu-ray for the first time, and several collections hitting stores. Below the jump you can view the full list of genre DVD & Blu-Ray titles arriving tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 in this weekly version of the famous Fangoria Chopping List - updated with all the last minute additions and deletions.

The 10th Victim

It is the 21st Century, and society's lust for violence is satisfied by "The Big Hunt," an international game of legalized murder. But when the sport's two top assassins (Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress) are pitted against each other, they find that love is the most dangerous game of all. As the world watches, the hunt is on. Who will become The 10th Victim?

The 10th...

The world can’t seem to get enough zombies.  Fast zombies.  Slow zombies. Nazi zombies. Hare Krishna zombies. Blockbuster zombies. Indie zombies. With ‘Pontypool,’ we even had zombies that appeared to work for Merriam-Webster. With all these zombies running around in movie theaters, video stores, and TV sets, a filmmaker really has to do something special with his or her zombie movie to make it stand out in the crowd. Writer/director Henry Weintraub has given us the nerdy zombie, and, with his new film ‘Melvin,’ he offers up an entertaining gorefest with just a few problems.

Told in jarring and oftentimes baffling non-sequential order, the events in ‘Melvin’ center around two nerds, Melvin and Norton, who are seemingly unrelated.  They are both picked on by the same group of punks, and Melvin, who has been dead for three years, has a sister with whom Norton is madly in love.

A film by Henry Weintraub (MindSlime) "Melvin" is selling out screens in Oregon so far and now several movie stills, from the shoot, are available for fans to see before going out to watch the film. Shot independently over the course of a year "Melvin" stars several local stars "including local actor Patrick O'Driscoll [Hamlet]," and "Troma Entertainment's Lloyd Kaufman (The Toxic Avenger, Poultrygeist)." Not to be missed this limited opportunity for fans of the zombie horror sub-genre must be snapped up; plus, there is a free showing June 17 at the Pix Patisserie theatre.

"Melvin" listings...

"Melvin" in Portland - Free!!

June 17th at the Pix Patisserie 10Pm - Portland, Or

"Melvin" in Salem - Premiere.

June 19th at the Northern Lights 9Pm - Salem, Or

Director: Henry Weintraub.

Writer: Henry Weintraub.

Cast: Patrick O'Driscoll, Lloyd Kaufman, Leif Fuller, Lily Maher, and Yonatan Schultz.

Sources:

Henry Weintraub. Press Release. 10 June...

Troma-esque horror feature "Melvin," unleashes blood and bile throughout Oregon beginning June 5th then ending June 26 with a free showing. Made for $4000 the film is being described as "darkly humourous" and "blood soaked." Already released May 22 the film will enjoy a continuous limited run through the summer in this 531 Production. Have a look at a frenetic trailer that asks a lot of questions and check out the theatre dates and showings (Horror...).

Showings for "Melvin:"

June 5th at the Clinton St. Theater 7Pm - Portland, Or

June 6th at the Bijou 11:30Pm - Eugene, Or

June 17th at the Pix Patisserie 10Pm - Portland, Or

June 19th at the Northern Lights 9Pm - Salem, Or

Free! June 26th at the Wandering Goat 9:30Pm - Eugene, Or

A synopsis for "Melvin," here...

"Melvin," is dead... Now, three years after his accidental murder, he is finally making up for lost time.

Year: 2009

Directors: Henry Weintraub

Writers: Henry Weintraub

IMDb: link

Trailer: link

Purchase DVD: link

Review by: quietearth

Rating: 5 out of 10

To give you some idea what type of film this is, Troma head Lloyd Kaufman has a bit piece, but it's not sub-z like all that other crap, it's polished and enjoyable but not without numerous flaws. The story revolves around a nerd, Melvin, killed by a bunch of punks who comes back from the dead for his revenge. The trailer was what sold me, but as the film was done in a linear style, interspersed with slowly revealing flashback sequences that were at times utterly confusing, the potential was shot to hell.

Melvin turns out not to be the main character but he's behind the revenge commited. It starts with him as a zombie and some great gore (which you would expect in this type of film) but as...

The Troma classic The Toxic Avenger is a rite of passage. Into what, it’s hard to say, but once you’ve seen it, you can never turn back—and it has no doubt had an effect on every viewer fortunate enough to view the film since its initial release in 1984. For some, that effect has been an inspiration to spread the movie’s unique joys, exposing the genius of Lloyd Kaufman and co. to the largest amount of the uninitiated as they can. Award-winning playwright Joe Dipietro and Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan decided to do so by turning the concept into an equally insane, wildly creative musical that’s currently playing at New York City’s New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

“I saw the movie many years ago, and really dug it,” Dipietro says. “I love Lloyd’s aesthetic style. It’s funny, irreverent and way out there.

We need a new abbreviation for horror comedy's.. like whorecom, haha, just kidding. But seriously, when you see Lloyd Kaufman making an appearance in a movie, your ears perk up and think "wow this is going to be some real crap!", but in this case, it looks quite fascinating. While we don't have a synopsis for the film, based on the teaser it looks like Melvin is a nerd who gets pushed around and tortured by everyone, and I'm guessing at some point toward the end of the teaser he dies and comes back to take revenge on those who messed with him. Yes!

Teaser after the break.