Review: The Toxic Avenger

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Troma Entertainment opened its doors in 1974 and – like Roger Corman, who created B-movies and served as a proving ground to great talent – launched the careers of innumerable talents in front of and behind the camera: James Gunn, Eli Roth, Samuel L. Jackson, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Marisa Tomei to name a few. Even Kevin Costner and Oliver Stone found their start in the shlock factory of Troma. Both Corman and Troma's Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz took a very "work with what you've got" attitude, imparting skills that allowed for people who worked under them to be incredibly versatile and creative. The difference in output is marked.

While Corman got his start with films like The Raven and The Masque of the Red Death, sliding into more niche material like Death Race 2000 as time went on, the core desire to make art was there. Troma on the other hand had a much different sensibility. Their output consisted of films like Waitress! and Surf Nazis Must Die, to the most recent reboot of The Toxic Avenger, which releases August 29, 2025. Their films were less art and more satire by way of Mad or Cracked magazines passed through a filter of Fangoria. The philosophy was less art house and more punk rock, and this most recent reboot is bringing that punk rock, in-your-face attitude right back to the screen.

The Toxic Avenger is one of many films Troma has brought to the public and stands as their most well-known. There were multiple sequels, reboots, and even a Saturday morning cartoon (about as kid-appropriate as the short-lived Rambo cartoon in the 80s). I remember watching the cartoon of The Toxic Avenger at the time and wondering why this was even a thing. As I've aged, I've come to understand you never say no to a paycheque, and if you can subversively give the finger to the very establishment that is paying you (especially when it's a corrupt and rotting one), you go all in. That's what Legendary and Troma Entertainment teamed up to do. The film is written and directed by Marcon Blair, with co-writers Lloyd Kaufman and Joe Ritter (2 of the original screenplay's writers), and both Kaufman and Herz serve as producers working closely with Blair to maintain the integrity and spirit of the film.

The original film attacked gym culture and toxic masculinity, and in the new film, gym culture has been transformed into wellness culture, with Kevin Bacon (yes you read that right) playing Bob Garbinger, a corrupt wellness guru poisoning Saint Roma Village (and yes, we do get MULTIPLE sight gags where this is shortened to Troma Ville). He is assisted by his brother Fritz (played by Elijah Wood, yes you also read that right) and his associate Kissy Sturnevan (Julia Davis). Bob is bribing the town government and is in bed with the Khaki Klub, a local crime syndicate of yuppy mobsters. Whenever they need something cleaned up, Fritz uses his minions, a local rap metal band channeling ICP/Korn energy called The Killer Nutz. This is all established within the first 20 minutes of the film, which is a lot to absorb, but is about right for a Troma production.

Where we get a bit more heart and grounding is in the character of Toxie (Peter Dinklage), who starts the film as Winston, but instead of being a horny schlub like in the original film, he is a stepdad raising his deceased partner's neurodivergent child. The portrayal of spectrum behaviour is never played for a joke and this is an evolution which I feel was needed from the original source material. Audiences need a bit more from their protagonists, and a horny teenager who is taking revenge on his bullies just doesn't click as well as it used to. Winston/Toxie meets his fate trying to find money for medication, landing in an ooze that transforms him and begins his hero's journey. This is the last we see of Dinklage on screen, replaced by his regular stunt double Luisa Guerreiro who he has collaborated with in the past. Dinklage has been interviewed saying that she's mastered his mannerisms so well it's exactly how he would have acted it, though we do continue to hear his dulcet tones every time Toxie speaks. Given the prosthetics, you wouldn't know it was dubbed unless you were told.

The entire cast went all in on this film, delivering the perfect balance of earnestness and tongue-in-cheek camp, but specific shout outs need to go to Jacob Tremblay who plays Wade and Taylour Paige who plays J. J. Doherty. Tremblay plays a neurodivergent individual and never descends into parody, functioning as the heart of this film, while Paige helps carry the narrative forward, often playing it straight to Toxie's over-the-top actions. They helped keep this film on the rails.

That all said, there's still the obligatory boob flashes, penis swinging, and even a giant mutant (some may say girthsome) ding dong spraying acid pee. If you are a fan of The Toxic Avenger, then this still remains a film for you but with a bit more of a heart. The core power dynamic of classic Troma remains intact through this new iteration – yuppies suck, Nazis/incels/bullies suck, and screw the people in power, it's the little guy who rules so we should fight that power. This movie is crass, in your face, and a real tribute to the original. Also watch for the final scene – Lloyd Kaufman makes an appearance.

Tags: Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, Jacob Tremblay, Macon Blair, Lloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz, Troma, The Toxic Avenger

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