The Toxic Avenger – Film Review
Reviewed by Harris Dang on the 27th of August 2025
Umbrella Entertainment presents a film by Macon Blair
Produced by Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Lloyd Kaufman, and Michael Herz
Written by Macon Blair
Starring Peter Dinklage, Luisa Guerreiro, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Julia David, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon, Sarah Niles, and Julian Kostov
Edited by Brett W. Bachman and James Thomas
Running Time: 103 minutes
Rating: MA15+
Release Date: the 28th of August 2025
Set in the fictional city of Tromaville St. Roma’s Villa, The Toxic Avenger (2023) tells the story of Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), a lowly, taciturn janitor struggling to make ends meet. His relationship with his stepson, Wade (Jacob Tremblay), is estranged due to his mother’s untimely passing meaning their living situation is not exactly The Ritz-Carlton. To make matters worse, Gooze discovers he has an incurable brain affliction, which leaves him with one year to live.
After a failed attempt to use his company insurance (with an amusing voice cameo from Jane Levy as an insurance rep) and to plead alms from his company’s CEO, Bob Garbinger (Kevin Bacon), and his assistant, Kissy Sturnevan (Julia Davis), Gooze decides to rob the company payroll.
Meanwhile, an intrepid reporter J.J. (Taylour Paige) tries exposing Garbinger for the greedy, exploitative scum-sucker he is as he shills his products for profits over the well-being of the city’s people. As she tries blowing the whistle, she crosses paths with Gooze and things turn toxic, leaving Gooze for dead. He undergoes a drastic transformation that leaves him deformed, despaired, and developing superpowers. Unwilling to disappoint his son or let Garbinger slide, Gooze becomes The Toxic Avenger (Luisa Guerreiro as suit performer, Dinklage as the voice). He battles twisted freaks, crooked gangsters, and corrupt businessmen to save the day.
The Toxic Avenger (2023) is the latest film from actor/filmmaker Macon Blair. He is best known for his collaborations with acclaimed filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier with films such as Murder Party (2007), Blue Ruin (2013), and Green Room (2015). He has directed the acclaimed neo-noir comedy I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017), which bears a fitting balance of stark violence and offbeat comedy that can be cultivated into something Troma-tic.
If you are thinking of bad taste, non-PC humour, gallons of bodily fluids, extreme lashings of blood and gore, blunt social commentary, metatextual filmmaking, numerous instances to historical culture, and over-the-top acting that can only be described as pre-stroke then you are thinking of Troma Entertainment. The prospect of a remake within a Hollywood studio sounds intriguing and concerning.
After years of development hell (including a PG-13 version potentially starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Toxie), vast world events, and cancel culture, the film finally premiered in Fantastic Fest to acclaim. Even so, the film was never fully released as it was deemed to be “unreleasable” [sic] due to its violent content.
The prologue sets the tone immediately, as we are taken into the world in a brief media res, flashing all the characters, violence, refuse, and insanity. What really ties it altogether is the cast’s commitment. On the villainous side, the ensemble of Bacon, Wood, and Davis chew the scenery, vomit it out, and chew it all up again. Davis has the comedic timing down pat while Wood has enthusiastically played numerous weirdos over the years starting with Sin City (2005). In the case of Bacon, his performance is so slimy, he leaves a path wherever he goes and will give you the horns when you mess with him. Literally. With the presence of the titular role, that is really saying something.
The heroic cast does a marvellous job balancing pathos with comedy. The mirth comes from character and not solely from the level of performance. Dinklage nails the sad-sack droopy-puppy look in that his predicaments are sad, but his persistence is sympathetic and very funny, very similar to the early work of actor Albert Brooks. Tremblay adds heart and credibility to the role of Wade while adding a certain level of angst as he reaches his teenage years. Paige is a wonderful foil to Dinklage as her straight, deadpan reactions to the hijinks around her are remarkably funny. Special credit must go to Guerreiro as she adeptly displays the physicality and tenacity of Toxie.
As for the humour, writer/director Blair maintains a good balance of humour, pathos, and mayhem while moving the film at a decent clip. While the editing choices are jarring in its ellipsis and storytelling momentum, the result effectively keeps the comedy on its toes in hitting its targets. The targets, including social satire on the environmental damage, cancel culture, political right-wing ideology, lead to some fantastic set-pieces. One of them involves an extremist group holding a restaurant hostage because the establishment’s name changed from Mr to Miss Meat. The production design is compellingly grungy and gritty, and the costume design is vivid and appropriately mismatched, bringing colour and credibility to the world.
However, what could deter Troma Entertainment fans is how restrained the movie feels. In terms of its violence, most of it is notably practical effects. But the CGI implementation can be quite distracting. While not the fault of cinematographer Dana Gonzales, the filmmaking’s digital sheen detracts from the lurid feel in the Troma-tic storytelling. And as for the bad taste in its comedy, the film dials back the non-PC humour so that it feels tame in comparison. On the other hand, the film attempts to have pathos and heart with its characters so to have such bad taste in the narrative is detrimental.
While the latest iteration of the New Jersey superhuman (not superhero, since the term was copyrighted by Marvel and Warner Bros. at the time of creation, according to creator Lloyd Kaufman) may not be the apex predator of bad taste as Citizen Toxie – The Toxic Avenger IV (2001) was, The Toxic Avenger throws its own kitchen sink charms while honouring its origins in a gloriously entertaining fashion. Recommended.
Summary: The Toxic Avenger throws its own kitchen sink charms while honouring its origins in a gloriously entertaining fashion. Recommended.
4
Strong
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