In the modern culture of remakes and sequels to long-dead franchises, no one should be shocked to see an old name make a return to relevance. Despite the expectation, there are still a few projects that come out of nowhere and force fans to look back over decades of history to see a possible future.
Recently, news emerged about the still upcomingToxic Avengerreboot that reignited excitement amongst much of its fanbase. The film has some big-name stars, an interesting director, and the original creators on staff, but the new most exciting detail is that the film hasreceived a firm R-Rating.
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The Toxic Avengerwas released in 1984 by the infamous independent production company Troma Entertainment. The film was directed by Troma’s founders, Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, and remains one of the most important pieces of the franchise’s 48-year legacy. Upon initial release, the film was completely unpopular and roundly ignored. The turning point came after a long andgradually beloved midnight moviecampaign that lasted well into late 1985. The good people at Troma previously made their living on immature adult comedies, butThe Toxic Avengermarked the moment at which the studio began its campaign of silly horror.
Though most of their films are small and disposable, Troma’s impact as a studio remains significant. James Gunn’s first project wasTromeo & Juliet, and he credits Kaufman as a mentor. J.J. Abrams' first job in the film industry also comes from Troma; he scored Don Dohler’s 1982 filmNightbeast. WithoutThe Toxic Avenger, the world could have been deprivedof works likePeacemakerorThe Force Awakens.
The Toxic Avengeris asimple superhero origin story. It follows Melvin, a scrawny gym employee who is constantly bullied by the clientele. The abuse escalates over time and eventually results in a violent chase that sends Melvin out the second-story window and into a vat of toxic waste. Melvin is hideously deformed, but is also granted a substantial increase in size and strength. After the incident, Melvin comes across a violent crime in action and wields his newfound power to defend the innocent. In short order, he’s seen as a hero by the populace and dubbed The Toxic Avenger, or Toxie for short. His crime-fighting antics earn him the ire of a local mob boss and the city’s corrupt mayor. Melvin must use his superhuman strength and newfound public fame to expose crime, defeat evil, and save his home city of Tromaville, New Jersey.
Devoid of greater context, it sounds like a perfectly standard superhero movie, but every aspect of the presentation is made more excessive and less mature. As is to be expected of anything with a Troma logo,The Toxic Avengeris packed to the gills with sex and violence. The sense of humor fallssomewhere betweenThe BoysandThe Maskwith tons of tasteless gags. Mitch Cohen, who portrays Toxie in the initial film, is 6' 4" and immensely muscular, using the Lou Ferrigno method of hiring a genuinely huge man to portray a superhero. Among Troma’s massive catalog, it was a bygone conclusion that the film would see a sequel. Instead, it saw three.
Lloyd Kaufman set out to direct a sequel shortly after the eventual success of the first film, but mistakes were made in production. Partway through filmingThe Toxic Avenger: Part II, Kaufman realized that he had shot far too much film to pack into one feature, and set to work editing it into two.Part IIholds a rare andcoveted 0% on Rotten Tomatoes.Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxiedidn’t fare much better. Both films were considered proof that Toxie didn’t warrant more than a single film. They were so despised by the public that even Troma didn’t see fit to keep them around. In 2000, Kaufman put outCitizen Toxie: The Toxic AvengerIV, which was seen as a return to form by fans. That period was marked by one other big adaptation,Toxic Crusaders, a Saturday morning cartoon based onThe Toxic Avenger.The series ditched all the gratuitous sex and violence in favor of a comicalparody ofCaptain Planet.
One cult-hit midnight movie, two widely despised sequels, and a surprisingly decent season of a kid’s show have remained in the hearts of fans for decades. The remake has securedKevin Bacon and Peter Dinklage. It’s set to be directed by Macon Blair, star ofBlue Ruinand director ofI Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore. Kaufman and Herz are attached as producers.
Troma has remained in its place of counter-cultural semi-celebrity since the day Toxie became beloved. With nothing but some cheap tasteless comedy and up-and-coming talent, a few creatives crafted one story in a million that would endure the decades and their own incompetence. It’s a joy to see Toxie return, and even if this film doesn’t work out, he’s proven he can survive anything.
