The Toxic Avenger (2023) Review

Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage) is a janitor working at the BTH plant, where CEO Bob Garbinger (Kevin Bacon) is trying to stay one step ahead of his other Big Pharma competition by producing the next, must have drug, even if he has to break the law to do it. And break the law he will, because he’s in the pocket of a local gangster Thad (Jonny Coyne) who wants a bigger cut of the seriously dwindling action.

Given a devastating medical diagnosis, Winston is screwed over by BTH’s dodgy healthcare scheme and screwed over again by Garbinger’s flimsy promise to do right, at which point he plans to steal a pile of cash from BTH. The robbery goes badly wrong, in that Winston is shot through the head and dumped into a pool of toxic waste. Of course, that might be the end of Winston as we know him but it’s the beginning of a new superhero…

Kicking around for a couple of years before appearing out of the shadows at FrightFest London, the time spent in distribution limbo did not augur well for writer/director Macon Blair’s remake of Troma’s 1984 cult grungefest. However, for those of us wanting goofy, gory action with knowing jokes, a touch of sweetness and a shedload of references to its decades old source material, The Toxic Avenger is more fun than it has any right to be.

The opening sequence, landing the viewer in mid-Toxie transformation and narrated by Dinklage, even takes the (acid) piss out of the “You’re probably wondering how I got here” trope as Winston states that he didn’t want any of it, “certainly not the heroic voiceover”, before spinning backwards in time a short while to his awkward homelife and various attempts to be the best (step)dad he can to son Wade (Jacob Tremblay) following the tragic death of Wade’s mum/Winston’s wife. Wade’s dreams of acing a forthcoming talent show with a dance number are fully supported by Winston but Wade isn’t having any of it. Cue a parent/child relationship development arc, even if the parent is radioactive and smashes the jaws from assailants with his trusty mop.

Aiding Winston in his quest for justice is J.J. (Taylour Paige), a crusading reporter who’s trying to blow the lid off BTH’s criminal activities following the murder of her mentor – OG fans get ready for this name – Mel Ferd (Shaun Dooley) by Garbinger’s band of thugs who also perform as the monstercore band The Killer Nutz, a purposely ropey musical rap/metal mash-up featuring, amongst others, a parkour-obsessed idiot who can’t help performing flips at every opportunity, even if those flips send him crashing through furniture.

Anyone worried that Macon Blair would de-Tromatise The Toxic Avenger by means of a bigger budget and name actors can breathe a sigh of relief. This a writer and director with an innate understanding of the source material and an ability to weave in his own bizarre sense of humour, as well as giving himself an Uncle Lloyd-esque cameo (which, at one point, also involves Uncle Lloyd himself). This also means that although Troma-phobic folks may enjoy the energised visuals and cling to the toplining performances of Dinklage and Bacon for a while, they could eventually be turned off by the freewheeling nature of the plot, splattery revenge action and the overriding level of inspired idiocy.

The roster of bonafide performing talent on display all lean into the material. Kevin Bacon, in particular, seems particularly happy to be in such disreputable muck and Elijah Wood gets to roll out more grotesque character work as Fritz, a scientist with a deathly pallor and somehow the brother of bronzed, beautiful Bob. Add in Julia Davis as Bob’s almost as evil associate, Tremblay as the kid trying to break free via some high school hoofing, Annette Badland in a supporting role as caring shopkeeper Daisy and there’s no doubt that this is one hell of a cast – doing this?

Here’s the thing. This is a Troma movie. However, it’s a Troma movie for this decade, buffed up with genuine filmmaking quality and snazzily mounted action sequences but still full of dodgy jokes and over the top violence if you choose to tune out the pro-environment and anti-big business message. It also features moments of real emotional depth, such as Winston’s darkly humorous but ultimately heartbreaking call to his health insurance provider and his general yearning to connect with Wade. Still, just as you’re about to wipe that tear from your eye, some villain will get his arm ripped off or head squished. There’s a gag about losing and then attempting to reattach a limb which is utterly ludicrous and had me laughing out loud. That probably tells you a lot about what tickles my funny bone.

The Toxic Avenger is bonkers, bloody and bizarre. Dinklage and Bacon should be given particular plaudits for choosing this to sit in their filmographies forever and they should be rightly proud of appearing in such fabulous rubbish. Also, a special mention must also go to Luisa Guerreiro as “The Bod” of Winston in post-mutant mode, bringing an energy to the fight sequences even if the match to Dinklage’s frame is maybe not exact. Maybe that’s the point. Classic Troma flicks couldn’t have cared less about such things and Macon Blair cares far more about doing this weirdest of franchises justice. It’s a superhero movie which parodies superhero movies in sharp, hilarious ways.

Forget Marvel. Toxie lives!

Movie Rating:

The Toxic Avenger trailer