The Toxic Avenger

The Toxic Avenger

The Toxic Avenger
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz
USA 1984

PLOT

Melvin is a young man working as a janitor at the Tromaville gym. His life changes forever when, after being thrown by some local bullies, he falls into toxic waste barrels, transforming into a terrifying creature.

CONSIDERATIONS

The combination of “Toxic Avenger – Troma” is about as romantic as it gets in cinema.
Today, for many, Troma is synonymous with low-quality products filled with absurd situations. However, we’re talking about a production company that for years had a significant market presence thanks to films that are now recognized and respected within certain circles.
The Toxic Avenger would go on to become the production house’s flagship film: it cost $500,000 and was initially a flop, but over the years it went on to gross about $30 million.

This film is pure anarchy: absurd, surreal, splatter-filled, and fun. It’s a type of cinema that perfectly embodies the nerdy, catchy style of the era, constantly over the top. The movie is full of bullies, idiotic jokes, caricatured characters, an absurd superhero, and plenty of violence, but thanks to its frantic pace, it’s a joy to watch.

However, it doesn’t shy away from harsh criticism of American society’s “products”: bullying, corruption, the lack of principles in positions of power, the military’s nonsensical force, and the rejection of those who are different.
The film references popular movies and directors of the time: Revenge of the Nerds, Porky’s, Cronenberg, Raimi-style splatter, and more.
Though lighthearted, when it comes to horror, it doesn’t hold back, showing us clearly severed limbs, protruding intestines, mutating bodies, gushing bodily fluids, crushed heads, and hands in deep fryers.

An independent film with a strong underground feel, the actors are mostly unknown, the trashy ideas are countless, and the direction is perfect for what it wants to communicate. The special effects are surprisingly good (obviously proportionate to independent cinema): the nerd’s transformation into the avenger is really well done and impressive.

This simple and silly story of a nerd who becomes a monster due to pollution, falls in love with a blind girl, beats up and kills all the bullies and criminals with a mop, and ends up being loved by the people of a corruption-ridden American town, would go on to be such a success that it spawned 3 sequels, a documentary, two theatrical productions, became Troma’s logo, a comic book, t-shirts, action figures… Is that enough to understand the stature of what, over time, has become a globally recognized brand?

There’s a 110-minute director’s cut, available for free on YouTube, dubbed in Italian.

PANDEMONIUM MOMENT

The bullies, high on cocaine, first run over a kid on a bike, then reverse over him to crush his head, and finally take photos, laughing proudly at their work.

Click here to watch our HDE Trailer


Subscribe to our YouTube channel

 

Similar Posts

  • Found

    Marty and Steve are two brothers living with their parents in a rather troubled situation: Marty, the younger one, is bullied at school by his classmates, and Steve, the older brother, displays an unruly teenage character. One day, Marty, secretly rummaging through his brother’s room, finds a severed head inside a bowling bag in the closet. This will be the first clue that leads the young boy to discover the terrible secret Steve is hiding.

  • Snuff 102

    The film follows the descent into hell of a young woman who falls into the clutches of a group of sadistic and perverse individuals. The scenes of torture and violence are depicted so realistically that they make even the toughest viewers’ veins and nerves tremble.

  • The Sadness

    Taipei, an ordinary morning. A couple is getting ready to start their day and go about their usual tasks, unaware of what’s unfolding around them. Soon, however, they realize that everything is gradually changing: a mysterious and deadly virus is turning the country’s population into insane killers.

  • Contracted

    Samantha is a young and beautiful woman going through a delicate phase in her life, following the end of a romantic relationship with her partner. One evening, at a party, she takes drugs and meets a handsome stranger. After several drinks, the two leave and have unprotected sex in a car.

  • Malignant

    Seattle. Madison, pregnant, lives with her violent and bipolar husband Derek. Besides dealing with her abusive husband, she suffers from waking nightmares of horrific murders. Madison discovers that the deaths she sees are real, feeling a connection between herself and the killer, almost like an umbilical cord, similar to the one with the baby she desires but cannot have.

  • Kabin Fever

    A group of young people who decide to spend a weekend in an isolated cabin in the woods. However, their idyllic stay quickly turns into a nightmare when they are infected by a mysterious and deadly virus that drives them to madness and desperation. As the virus spreads and panic grows, the characters are forced to confront not only their deepest fears but also their own survival.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *