THE STORY – A janitor becomes a social outcast when a freak accident at a chemical factory turns him into a mutant. However, he soon uses his newfound superhuman strength to battle slimy criminals and a corrupt CEO.
THE CAST – Peter Dinklage, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Julia Davis, Jonny Coyne, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon & Luisa Guerreiro
THE TEAM – Macon Blair (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 103 Minutes
Horror has been one of the most reliable genres of the past few years. It’s even become a critical favorite lately, with many horror films given the lofty distinction of being considered “elevated.” You know the type – they usually open with a prestige indie logo, tackle relatable themes like grief and trauma, and are heavy on uneasy mood and atmosphere. “The Toxic Avenger” is none of those things. This movie is for the freaks who like horror movies that will never attempt an Oscar campaign. Nasty, goofy, and gloriously unelevated, it’s proudly imperfect and has no interest in appealing to anyone who isn’t already bought in on the gnarly premise alone.
In this update of the 1984 Troma classic, Peter Dinklage plays Winston Gooze, a low-level janitor who spends his days cleaning up the chemical/pharma/waste-producing facility, BTH. He lives with his stepson Wade (Jacob Tremblay), who wants nothing to do with his not-father. After receiving a dire medical diagnosis, Winston attempts to reason with his company’s ruthless CEO Bob Garbinger (Kevin Bacon), hoping he might see it in his heart to help one of his lowly employees. After Garbinger cruelly rejects him, Winston takes it upon himself to enact revenge. But after being inadvertently doused in toxic waste, he transforms into the titular super-creature. He loses his human appearance but gains superhuman strength and abilities. With nothing to lose, he wages righteous war on the corrupt company that wronged him, along with vigilante crusader J.J. Doherty (Taylour Paige).
Fans of the original masterpiece of poor taste will be pleased to know that Toxie (the adorable nickname that the people of New Jersey give to the titular character) and his gross-out adventure haven’t been softened by time. Director Macon Blair leans into the ridiculous nature of the story, with immaturity and sophomoric sensibility infiltrating every inch of the film. Even the locations have self-aware low-brow names, like Depressing Outskirts and Ye Old Shithead District. And in one particularly funny moment, a vengeful mob takes up torches and simply starts chanting, “Mob! Mob! Mob!” The tone is so correct throughout. And yet, that doesn’t mean that Toxie’s story is lacking heart or genuine pathos. He’s a classic tragic character, with a fate reminiscent of that of similar characters, such as John Merrick of “The Elephant Man” and the furry lead of “Beauty and the Beast.” He’s surrounded by nastiness, but Toxie’s heart is pure. Further adding to his sympathetic nature is the dual performance that brings him to life, with Dinklage providing a compelling and hilarious voiceover, and Luisa Guerreiro delivering a fantastically adept, limber, and funny physical performance. Their work is so harmonious that many viewers may not even realize it’s a double act.
The rest of the cast is just as game as Dinklage and Guerreiro. Bacon knows precisely what kind of movie he’s in, leaning into his character’s uncompromising mustache-twirling villainy. Paige is extremely compelling and charming, bringing to life the closest thing the film has to an audience surrogate and halfway-decent character. Julia Davis is a hoot as Bacon’s right-hand woman – she’s a pro at comic screaming. And Elijah Wood turns in another ridiculous, freaky-deaky performance caked in makeup. He looks more like Danny DeVito’s Penguin than Frodo Baggins.
Besides its iconic main character, the most memorable aspect of the original film is the over-the-top gore. And Blair’s reimagining doesn’t shy away from it, delivering plenty of splattery moments that’ll make viewers squirm in delight. Unfortunately, it relies too heavily on CGI gore effects, which will always pale in comparison to old-fashioned, handmade ones. Luckily, the film isn’t otherwise too reliant on computer-generated special effects. Practical puppets, effects, and especially makeup are lovingly deployed. And, okay, earlier in this review, I may have thrown some shade at prestige horror films that seem more interested in appealing to the Academy than audiences. Still, the makeup work that brings Toxie to life is genuinely Oscar-worthy.
“The Toxic Avenger” is a movie that knows exactly what its unwell viewers want. Anyone choosing to spend their time in the film’s twisted, wonderfully stupid world will get precisely what they hoped for: a nasty, repulsive, and shockingly heartfelt tale full of cathartic vengeance.
