“The Toxic Avenger” Offers Absurd Heart

The Toxic Avenger (Macon Blair, 2023) 3½ out of 5 stars

Evildoers beware! Legendary Entertainment resurrects a 1980s gem, probably forgotten by most people, The Toxic Avenger. Peter Dinklage (Cyrano) plays Winston Gooze, a downtrodden janitor for an evil corporation led by Kevin Bacon (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F). After a failed attempt to steal money from his work to pay for the medication that could save his life, Winston is dropped in a vat of vile chemicals and thereby transformed into the titular avenger. Now Winston must not only come to terms with his new superhuman abilities but also save his family and community from the dangerous reach of Bacon’s corrupt CEO.

While this new Toxic Avenger is chock full of jokes and absurdly gory kills, the film never strays too far from the plotting of the original classic. The production value been launched into the stratosphere, and that is never more apparent than in the on-screen talent. Dinklage and Bacon are perfectly suited to their respective roles.

Never underestimate the power of the heart in the midst of extreme goofiness. Dinklage brings that heart and unbridled earnestness to Winston, a man trying to provide for his stepson, played by Jacob Tremblay (The Predator) and do the right thing for once. While the film’s writing doesn’t give a star like Bacon enough to chew on as the big bad guy, he nevertheless successfully lands the comedy of a CEO who has lost all his humanity to absurd levels.

If you are a lover of trashy films that embrace depravity in more ways than one, you’ll enjoy The Toxic Avenger. Its message against corporate greed is far from subtle, but the level of corporate greed that is gaining momentum in the real world is equally not so subtle. Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to get a reminder from our art of who has the power to keep us down in life.

Patrick Howard

Patrick Howard has been a cinephile since age seven. Alongside 10 years of experience in film analysis and criticism, he is a staunch supporter of all art forms and believes their influence and legacy over human culture is vital. Mr. Howard takes the time to write his own narrative stories when he can.