The Toxic Avenger

Saw the 'new' uncut version of this absolute toilet cinema as part of a blind early showing of an upcoming 'horror' film. Was slightly disappointed when learning that it was Toxic Avenger in the opening credits, absolute terrible film. The best part was when I got up and left early and got an hour back.

The Toxic Avenger was actually made in 2023, but - according to IMDb's trivia - 'producers failed to secure a distributor for some time due to the film's violent content'. Yeah, right! Terrifier 2 & 3 did just fine with much more violence. I think most distributors passed on the film because it is pure garbage, easily one of the most moronic Troma films I have ever seen, and that's saying something.

I gave it a shot because I found the original The Toxic Avenger to be fairly fun, was intrigued by the impressive cast (Peter Dinklage as Winston AKA Toxie, Kevin Bacon as the villain, Bob Garbinger, and Elijah Wood as Bob's brother Fritz), I thought that the trailer looked promising (hinting at plenty of over-the-top gore), and I thoroughly enjoyed director Macon Blair's I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore. Unfortunately, nothing about this film works. Blair attempts to replicate Lloyd Kaufmann's trademark lunacy, with plenty of colourful characters and general craziness, but it all feels so desperate: the gags fall flat and the chaotic direction is loud and obnoxious. The splatter is okay, but nowhere near as excessive as the trailer suggests (and too reliant on CGI).

I tried very hard to get into the swing of things - even forced myself to smirk a couple of times - but if truth be told, it wasn't long before I was praying for the film to end. The Toxic Avenger should have stayed on the shelf. 1/10.

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.

Got to experience this in person with a group of people. This is one of those films that you'll regret not seeing with a packed theater opening weekend.

I knew of The Toxic Avenger going into the film, but I had never seen the original 80s version (until after). This movie was made in a way that people unfamiliar with the original film and can still enjoy it, but services the true fans as well.

When this was announced I was intrigued and when I found out Macon Blair was directing, I was fully on board. I expected something putrid and heinous with a ton of violence. Now that this is finally here after almost 3 years of delays, I can say the brutality is there in heavy doses, but the comedy aspect that they went for is absolutely pathetic . Now I'm not saying the originals weren't zany and mightily cheesy. It's just for the time that is why they worked. This time around it's like they took gen z humor and threw it at a Gen x property and it just doesn't work. It's cringeworthy in the worst way. At times the extremism of it even goes into territory that gets bordeline creepy.

Another huge and glaring aspect is the casting of Peter Dinklage for Toxie . It just doesn't work flat out . I'm really not sure what they were thinking with that . It's also even more flabbergasting they don't even use him in the actual practical suit/mask . He's simply the voice over with a stunt double . Some of the other casting decisions were off as well with even some of the notables. I will say at times the visuals were kind of cool but that was about it . This film didn't need to happen if this was the effort they were gonna throw at it .