Phil Roberts 
While it may not be the most original film in recent memory, The Toxic Avenger is a riot. With a cast truly committed to delivering the best film possible, the film is outrageous, intoxicating, brutal, gory, and utterly hilarious.
After almost four decades, it is time to welcome back The Toxic Avenger. The hideous anti-hero was the star of a string of classic B-movies in the late 80s that saw legions of fans flocking to make it a cult phenomenon. But now, director Macon Blair and his stellar all-star cast are bringing the hero back for a whole new generation.
Reviving The Toxic Avenger is a bold move, especially with Marvel and DC dominating the comic book scene. So, the pressing question is: can Blair and his incredible cast, featuring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon, create a comedic, tongue-in-cheek version of Toxie that competes with mainstream superheroes? Or is it better to leave The Toxic Avenger in the waste dump rather than bringing it to the big screen?
REVIEW
Fear not, film fans, because The Toxic Avenger is a riot. As expected, Blair has delivered a totally off-the-wall, batshit crazy addition to the Toxie franchise that takes the B-movie rulebook and mocks it at every turn. With a cast truly committed to delivering the best film possible and loving every second of it, the film is intoxicating, brutal, gory, and utterly hilarious. What Blair has done here is refresh a classic property with a contemporary polish, stripped away the rulebook of the superhero sandbox, and delivered a fun and fresh twist on a beloved classic. Sure, the film isn’t anywhere near perfect, but what it lacks in quality, it more than makes up for it with the heart and passion of its incredible cast and crew.
This film is made with a genuine passion for its source material, and the results are impressive. Whether it has the endurance to compete with the big guns from DC and Marvel is still uncertain. Nonetheless, this new take on The Toxic Avenger is poised to become another instant cult classic.
A FRESH TAKE
From the very beginning, director Macon Blair works diligently to ensure we don’t take the film too seriously, which is one of its greatest strengths. The film opens with a hilarious monologue that sets the tone and introduces us to Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), a lowly janitor working for a Health Company run by the sleazy, corrupt Bob Garbinger, played by the sensational Kevin Bacon. The company is a global juggernaut, generating billions of dollars from a vast population with an insatiable appetite for the latest health and beauty trends.
Although the company’s supplements and miracle pills have been proven ineffective, Garbinger’s charming persona and deceptive sales techniques have made him popular with beauty-obsessed consumers. Even his employees view him as a god among men. However, despite his public image, Garbinger is far from the fresh-faced philanthropist that the public perceives him to be. In reality, he is a greedy tycoon who uses mob money to promote his next “breakthrough miracle cure.”
A CLEVER PARODY
The narrative is a richly layered satire of our consumer-driven, beauty-obsessed world. It depicts Kevin Bacon’s character as a sleazy villain, desperately trying to satisfy the public’s insatiable desire for the latest beauty trends, even though they offer little more than superficial appeal. All the while, his company continues to pollute the world with an endless flow of toxic waste, a byproduct of its unethical practices.
However, when J.J. Doherty (Taylour Paige) obtains evidence that will expose Garbinger’s legacy of ill practices, he dispatches his crazy gang of rock star hooligans to silence her before she can expose him. This is where our story begins. After a fast, furious, and ridiculously funny opening salvo, Blair sets about introducing us to the characters that will carry this balmy tale forward.
PETER DINKLAGE
This is where we meet Winston Gooze, portrayed by Peter Dinklage. The janitor is struggling to make ends meet and finds it challenging to step into the role of a stepfather to his late wife’s son. Wade, played by the ever-reliable Jacob Tremblay, is also grappling with his mother’s passing and views Winston as an unwelcome substitute parent. Despite the tension between them, the duo works diligently to maintain their daily routine and keep life as normal as possible.
However, things take a drastic turn for the worse when Winston receives a medical diagnosis that shakes him to his core. Soon, he begins searching for solutions to his grim financial predicament. His quest leads him to his employer, who refuses to help and casts him out to face his fate. In desperation, Winston decides to take one last bold action that brings him face to face with Doherty and the crazy gang of misfits tasked with silencing her. Ultimately, Winston finds himself plunged into a vat of Garbinger’s toxic waste, which alters his DNA and transforms him into the hideously heroic Toxic Avenger.
NARRATIVE SWITCH
From here, the story unfolds across three interconnected arcs. The main focus is on Winston, who struggles to come to terms with his mutation while journeying home to care for his adopted son. Along the way, he confronts the prejudice of the city’s beauty-obsessed population. The second arc follows Wade as he searches for his stepfather and grapples with the loss of both of his parents. The third arc centers on Garbinger, who is on a quest to find “Toxie” in order to extract his DNA and uncover the secret behind his mutation.
As expected, the story unfolds in a bizarre fashion, taking us through a string of witty, gruesome, and utterly eye-watering set pieces that showcase Toxie’s new powers. From his ability to heal bullet wounds to his radioactive mop, we experience events that only become more absurd as the film progresses.
MOCKING THE COMIC BOOK GENRE
The film excels at sidestepping the superhero sandbox while still making a mockery of the genre at every turn. There is a moment after Toxie saves a fast-food restaurant from a gang of crooks that takes Batman’s iconic rooftop pose and turns it on its head in brilliant fashion. The film is filled with humorous moments like this, which help keep things fresh, even when it follows a conventional formula. The over-the-top antics distinguish the movie from its mainstream counterparts, and the vulgarity of some scenes makes for brilliant viewing. From Toxie’s acid-like urine to his oversized, bulbous red eye, the film delivers a treasure trove of stomach-churning moments that aren’t for the squeamish. But the cellar dwellers among us will be eating well with this film.
ISSUES
While the film brings a fresh perspective to the usual formula, it does face a few challenges that affect its overall impact. Although it attempts to create something fresh, it occasionally relies on familiar clichés and adheres to certain expectations, which interrupts its momentum. This makes parts of the plot feel a bit slow, but it does find a way to pick up the pace again. With its unique approach, it still has the potential to leave viewers with a sense of intrigue, even if it stumbles along the way.
The same can be said for the ADR, or Automated Dialogue Replacement. When Winston is mutated into the creature we know and love, it’s Luisa Guerreiro that slips into the costume instead of Peter Dinklage, and it shows. At no point does the ADR used to dub the voice become believable. The lip sync never truly hits the mark, and it takes you out of the film far too frequently. Ordinarily, ADR isn’t noticeable, but here it is a constant and unwelcome companion on the journey.
TRIUMPHS
Despite these failings, the film has an abundance of redeeming qualities that make up for the scandalous ADR. The make-up used to bring The Toxic Avenger to life is wonderfully conceived and harkens back to the classic B-movies of the 80s. Not that it feels dated, far from it. Instead, the practical effects help establish a welcome, nostalgic atmosphere that resonates throughout the film. Like the previous entries in the franchise, this new take will divide the audience. Some will instantly connect with the throwback elements that remind them of films from yesteryear, while others will find it completely skippable. However, the practical effects used here are commendable, even when they reach the point of absurdity, and they only serve to heighten the film’s vibe.
PERFORMANCES
That being said, it is the performances of its sensational cast that are the stars of this show. While Peter Dinklage delivers a brilliant performance and clearly enjoys showcasing his comedic skills, it is Kevin Bacon who steals the spotlight. As Bob Garbinger, Bacon is allowed to dig into his B-movie roots to conjure up a villain as diabolical as he is bizarre. Like Dennis Quaid in The Substance, Bacon gets to craft a character that we can all loathe. It is wonderful to see the actor cut loose and have fun with a role, and here, you can feel his energy radiate through the screen. It is as infectious as it is intoxicating, and it is a joy to watch.
Another prime example of the actors enjoying the freedom of Blair’s sharp screenplay is Elijah Wood as Fritz Garbinger. Like Bacon, Wood truly embraces his role and creates a character that is as sleazy as he is absurd. The actor digs deep to bring this over-the-top sleazebag to the screen and revels in adding even more outlandish traits to the role as the film progresses. Wood has created some of the most memorable characters in Hollywood history, and here has produced another winner.
SUPPORTING ROLES
While every member of the cast delivers solid performances, two supporting actors stand out and deserve special recognition. First and foremost is Julia Davis, who plays Bob Garbinger’s infatuated assistant, Kissy Sturnevan. Davis truly shines in her role alongside Bacon, showcasing her wit through clever one-liners and a dry British delivery. This results in some of the film’s funniest moments, and the payoff during the finale is exceptionally well-executed. And finally, the other actor excelling here is Jacob Tremblay as Wade Gooze. Despite his age, the actor continually delivers performances of extreme weight and quality, and in The Toxic Avenger, Tremblay delivers again.
Despite being cast as the quirky and slightly introverted teenager, Tremblay cuts through the typical teenage angst to find the substance of the character. Focusing on the character’s torment and longing, the young actor delivers another weighted performance that defies his age. Like his co-stars, it is wonderful to see him cut loose and enjoy the sharp screenplay served up by Blair. By allowing him to enjoy flexing his comedic muscles, Tremblay has added another feather to his cap, and I cannot wait to see where his career takes him next.
VERDICT
Overall, The Toxic Avenger, like its predecessors, is likely to divide audiences. While it may be outrageous, raw, absurd, violent, gory, and hilarious, it relies heavily on a traditional formula, which diminishes some of its appeal. But viewers seeking a silly, over-the-top, and frankly batshit crazy outing at the cinema will be eating well here.Â
While it may not be the most original film in recent memory or the most entertaining, The Toxic Avenger delivers exactly what it promises to be. It’s a wild ride filled with blood, guts, gore, vulgarity, and sheer hilarity. While the ADR may be lacking, the performances from the talented ensemble cast more than compensate for it. The soundtrack is fantastic, the practical effects are impressive, and Dana Gonzales’ cinematography is a pleasure to take in. So, get ready for an awesome 90-minute B-movie ride full of outrageous fun that’s perfect for the big screen! Grab some popcorn, snag your ticket, and jump into one of the most entertaining and silly experiences you’ll ever have!
The era of B-movies has returned, and this relationship is toxic! Welcome back, Toxie.
The Toxic Avenger hits UK cinemas on August 29. Will you be heading to your local cinema for this one? Drop a comment in the chat below.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
