REVIEW: “The Toxic Avenger” (2025)

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The story behind “The Toxic Avenger” is just as outrageous as the content of its screen portrayals. Lloyd Kaufman’s 1984 film was a unique blend of superhero, black comedy, and splatter genres that amassed a passionate cult fanbase via VHS and Betamax releases. Over time, it opened the door for three full-length sequels, an animated series spin-off, and a video game inspired by the animated series.

In the year 2025, we find ourselves facing a remake that boasts an intriguing past. As early as 2010, discussions of a family-friendly reboot surfaced but didn’t materialize. Six years later, another reboot was proposed with Guillermo del Toro involved, but that also didn’t come to fruition. Legendary Pictures finally secured the rights for the remake in 2018, and by the following year, Macon Blair had been brought on board as both writer and director. The completed film debuted at various festivals in 2023 but faced challenges in securing a distributor due to its excessive violence. It wasn’t until earlier this year that Cineverse came along and agreed to distribute it.

In 2025, “The Toxic Avenger” makes a comeback with a brand-new look. Blair’s script is a delightful mix: it starts as a tale of an underdog, transforms into a story of a vigilante, and culminates into something resembling a superhero narrative. However, what truly defines “The Toxic Avenger” might just be its black humor. The jokes come thick and fast, frequently from the least expected sources. And to top it off, there’s the gore, generously sprinkled across the screen through a magical blend of digital and practical effects.

Peter Dinklage portrays Winston Gooze, a widowed and dedicated parent struggling to navigate life while raising his stepson Wade (Jacob Tremblay). Fate has dealt Winston a challenging series of events, and things become even more difficult when he’s diagnosed with a terminal brain disease, leaving him with only a year to live. In search of hope, Winston discovers an exorbitantly priced potential cure. However, his spirits are crushed upon finding out that the treatment is not included in the insurance coverage provided by BTH, where he has been a diligent janitor for years.

The Biotech corporation, BTH, is headed by its self-indulgent and unethical CEO, Robert Garbinger, portrayed by the eccentric Kevin Bacon who thrives in every eccentric scene. This company specializes in developing and dispersing unique bio-enhancers. However, it’s also a criminal offender, disposing of carcinogenic chemicals and hazardous waste into a river that flows near the quaint town of St. Roma’s Village. Consequently, a tenacious whistleblower named J.J. Doherty (Taylour Paige) is poised to disclose incriminating information about BTH’s complicity in these environmental crimes to the public.

Following his employer’s rejection of aid, a distraught, injured, and desperate Winston resorts to burglarizing the BTH factory to gather funds for his medical care. However, he is apprehended by Garbinger’s henchmen who fatally shoot him and discard his lifeless body in a tank containing hazardous chemicals. Surprisingly, these substances revive Winston but leave him disfigured and deformed. To add to his woes, the altered Winston develops superhuman strength and rapid healing abilities, which he employs to transform into the vigilante, mop-wielding hero that his city requires from its working class.

Dinklage imbues both warmth and dynamism into the character of Winston, whether before or following his gruesome metamorphosis (Luisa Guerreiro skillfully manages the physical performance while Dinklage contributes the voice-over). The surrounding actors are fully committed to the film’s vision. Among them, Bacon and Paige bring humor with Bacon playing an eccentric character and Paige serving as a straight counterpart. Furthermore, Elijah Wood delivers a performance reminiscent of Danny DeVito’s Penguin, Jonny Coyne portrays a relentlessly irate mob leader, and Julia Davis takes on the role of Garbinger’s flighty wife.

A Fresh Take on ‘The Toxic Avenger'”

This fresh take on “The Toxic Avenger” manages to deliver on all its promises, making it a delight for fans of shock schlock. The film is undeniably gory, appealing to some while repelling others, and equally absurdly funny, leading to mixed reactions. While it may push the boundaries to the point of exhaustion, it’s difficult not to be entertained by its chaotic blend of shock value and humor. “The Toxic Avenger” hits theaters on Friday, August 29th.

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2025-08-27 22:58