How can you call yourself a horror fan, if you have
never seen "The Toxic Avenger"??? I must have asked this
question a million times to many so-called horror fanatics. Love it or hate it,
Troma's "The Toxic Avenger" has forever influenced the way we
watch horror movies today. Born out the dark and deranged mind of Lloyd
Kaufman (co-founder of Troma) in the early 80's, Toxie, as his adoring fans
have come to call him, helped to establish a new standard for underground filmmaking. This
environmental crusader has become a symbol of freedom for children and
adults alike and a mainstay for the collective conscious of this here planet
earth. But beyond his rise to superstardom in animated
features, his own toy line and comic book series, Toxie's misadventures
helped to create one of the most entertaining, influential, and fun horror films
of all-time.
There are many reasons
why "The Toxic Avenger" is such a cool movie. Most
fans may not realize that classic films such as "Evil
Dead 2" and "DeadAlive" own
a great debt to the chances that "The Toxic Avenger" took in
further establishing a successful formula for the horror-comedy. Where on
the other hand, hardcore junkies should revel in the amount of gore and
violence that is infused in the heart of this film. It is from this
foundation that the true spirit of independent cinema is left to
blossom.
In turn it's main character Toxie, an antihero crafted in the shadows of
FRANKENSTEIN and Charlie Chaplin, succeeds even when bathed in a magnitude of death and destruction,
because of his child-like innocence. He is the common man's superhero perfect for defeating the evil
of the world, because unlike his peers in Metropolis and Gotham,
Toxie shows no fear or recourse in utilizing his toxic-infused powers to
mash and maim the bad guys.
Rarely, if ever, will you see him allowing one of his enemies, an
enemy against the environment, to live to pollute another day. Toxie
is one bad mofo!!!!!
Although not all Troma films
are as good as "The Toxic Avenger", they are just that,
Troma films. They are not made on Hollywood constrained multi-million dollar budgets in
hope of making a gillion bucks, but rather to entertain the fans. They are
perversely thought provoking in challenging viewers with important
questions of the day (i.e. pollution, nuclear power, lesbianism, etc). This light-hearted social
commentary can be much more effective in driving home issues than any
Spike Lee film.
Overall, "The Toxic
Avenger" succeeds from a well-paced and entertaining storyline. It's
cheesy characterization brought to life by an outrageously funny cast helps
to deliver a slice of Tromacana. Finally, the special effects
are exceptional and the classic head-crushing scene much like the
eye-gouging in Lucio Fulci's "Zombie"
has forever left it's mark in the collective psyches of all horror
fans. Make "The Toxic Avenger" part of your movie
collection and get TROMATIZED!!!!!!!!
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