Trying to critique a Troma movie is like trying to describe a Jackson Pollock to Helen Keller. It’s an exercise in futility because you have to see a Jackson Pollock to understand his use of colors. And I’m sure Keller never really could distinguish between red and blue.
When the movie studio was established in the early 1970s, it was supposed to be different from anything else. And considering this was the decade that changed Hollywood, founders Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman were really pushing for something out of the ordinary. Kaufman began to grow frustrated with the industry after working on several high-profile movies such as Rocky and Saturday Night Fever.
By the time he was working on The Final Countdown, which he co-produced and briefly appeared on screen as one of the Naval officers, he was completely fed up with it all. Rather than find another field to work in, he decided to change it up and do things the way he wanted. Most of the movies Troma at first released were cheap action and comedies but there were enough of those to go around.
The Toxic Avenger, released in 1984, was something totally different. It was like Airplane! on angel dust mixed with the gruesome brutality of Maniac. And just like most movies of the era, there was enough T&A to go around because what’s the point of making an R-rated movie unless you push it to the limits.
It wasn’t trying to win any awards or even make critics happy. It was schlock with a lot of no-name actors who mostly never made much since. Kaufman was going to take things further. Roger Corman made schlock but he still tried to make it meaningful. Kaufman, who often directed under the name Samuel Weil, felt people should just be entertained for an hour and a half. It was escapism. It didn’t need to have a point.
And for the most part, the movies that have been released since are mostly just outrageous, absurdist and vulgar movies that make other exploitation movies look like the works of Fellini. Therefore, even if you’re watching it for background noise around the house, you don’t have to worry if you get lost. I’m not even sure the filmmakers are paying attention themselves with shooting and then editing.
The Toxic Avenger became the cornerstone of Troma. It even has the distinction of being the first movie to feature future Oscar winner Marisa Tomei. And for one season in 1991, there was a cartoon series, Toxic Crusaders, based on the movie and its sequels. Then in the mid-1990s, a young and aspiring filmmaker named James Gunn got his feet wet working for the studios.
Needless to say the fanbase over the last 40 years has spread across a wide range of people. And for years, there were plans to do a remake/reboot. Most of which went nowhere. My guess is the studios wanted to make it PG-13. Even when it was finally completed in 2023, some people considered it an urban legend. There were fears it would go the same way as Coyote V. Acme. Was it possible a movie starring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon, Jacob Tremblay and Taylour Paige had been filmed?
Yes, it had. And it’s pretty damn good.
I mean, it’s a Troma movie regardless of the A-list cast and having Macon Blair helming the movie. Mainly it’s because Blair and the cast understand what they’re supposed to be doing is why the movie works. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel nor try to do anything differently. However, the nudity is toned down and the sexual content is mostly non-existent.
But I have to say I found it to be a perfect parody of superhero movies that strikes just at the right time. Dinklage is Winston Gooze, the lowly janitor at Body Talk Healthstyle. He’s having to take care of Wade (Tremblay), the teenage son of his deceased girlfriend and there’s a huge wedge in their relationship. Even worse is the neighborhood they live in has crime and problems.
But Winston learns he has a brain disease but the medicine to treat it isn’t covered by his insurance. He goes to a fund-raiser hosted by BTH owner Bob Garbinger (Bacon) to seek help but is denied and mocked. In a last-dicth effort, he attempts to rob his workplace. But it’s unsuccessful as he bumps into J.J. Doherty (Paige) who is a whistleblower being chased by The Killer Nutz, a death metal band who work as hired assassins as a side hustle.
The Nutz, who have been hired by Fritz (Wood), Bob’s grotesque-looking brother, shoot Winston in the confusion and dump his body into the toxic sludge. It manages to rejuvenate him. However, it alters his physical appearance making him even more grotesque. He’s skin is green and scaly even though he looks more muscular. Luisa Guerreiro is the suit performer while Dinklage still provides the voice.
Winston discovers that he has extreme strength and able to pull body parts off of people. He also can’t be killed and has rejuvenate powers. Initially considered a freak and monster, he soon becomes a hero when saves people at a restaurant during a hostage situation.
It’s a basic action comedy story, but the cast seems to enjoy themselves and the outrageousness. Wood seems to have fun looking like Grimer Wormtongue suffering from cancer. And Bacon is one of those actors who seems to have a knack for playing slimeball villains just as much as he can play good guys. There’s a joke about him criticizing an written article that implies The Emperor Has No Clothes just to show how cocky and arrogant his character is.
The movie might not be for everyone but I found Blair and the rest of the cast include a few Easter eggs of Troma movies that should make you smile.
Zane Says 