by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Hollywood and filmmakers seem to love nostalgia, so from that perspective, getting a new edition of one of cinema’s weirdest and most controversial franchise seems obvious. The issue is that The Toxic Avenger was a cult classic that never made a lot of money — but everything goes in our modern era of cinema.
This is the tale of an unassuming custodial employee who gets a vat of acid thrown on them, turning them into a superhero. This is such a bonkers and wild experience, which makes it a unique cult classic. The original 1984 film is far from good, but it has plenty of crazy elements to enjoy (and others to churn your stomach). It’s a wild enough premise that it is ripe for a fresh new take.
Enter, Macon Blair, who, as writer and director, strips away all the campy elements, including the terrible, over-the-top performances, and the cheap look. This time, we are treated to a much grittier film, where you can feel the grime of this world surrounding you. There are certainly characters who feel ripped out of a bonkers comic book, but most are more grounded… which is a tad odd for such a wild concept, but Blair makes it work. This should not be a surprise as he has turned low budgets into gritty and engrossing films before.
The Toxic Avenger boasts some over-the-top, gruesome action that will certainly make your jaw drop. Luckily, Blair moves away from the “shock for shock’s sake” approach of the original (small children and animals are much safer this time around). Plus, the humor is sharper and cleverer than the original — it feels more RoboCop satire than the big dumb humor of the original film. The practical effects honestly look quite good for bringing some weird, mutated characters to life, even if the CGI looks schlocky.
As for the story, the original film has a protagonist who is a nothing character with little characterization. But Blair approaches Winston/Toxie (Peter Dinklage) as a sympathetic man. He is trying his hardest to raise his stepson on his own after the death of his wife. Then he finds out he is dying and cannot afford the treatment due to the system around him. He takes desperate actions, and that leads to an inciting accident. Boom… enter, Toxie.
The film does a great job of building up empathy for its protagonist and gives him more stakes, but broader conspiracy elements, with a side story about a rebellious whistleblower (Taylour Paige), are a bit unnecessary. The film doesn’t need this storyline, and removing it could have streamlined the narrative even more. But the film does approach the terrible things going on in this city a lot better, and it has some interesting ideas to explore in its satire. There are a few standout sequences, including Toxie stopping a hold up at a restaurant (like the original), as well as a crazy turn of events at a concert. The third act is quite the escalation, and leads into a monster fight that is quite a bit of fun.
But is the acting is so different this time around? The original offers up a bunch of hammy and yelling performances that are not good, but they are funny to watch. Here, Dinklage delivers a truly impactful performance in this bonkers genre flick. From the start, he’s a charming and goofy dad who loves his son so much. There is a tenderness in him, and Dinklage effectively sells all of that. The turn into Toxie keeps those elements, while empowering Winston to show some backbone. A few particularly great moments highlight just how much fun Dinklage was having making this film.
Jacob Tremblay is solid as Winston’s son, and he even gets a chance to show off his talent during the final moments of the film. Paige’s character might feel a bit unnecessary, but she certainly makes an impact with her tough presence. Kevin Bacon hams it up as the film’s antagonist who gets to have a lot more fun at the climax of the film than you might expect, and Elijah Wood portrays Bacon’s deformed and creepy brother, who gets to show some unexpected depth and range.
The Toxic Avenger is an infinitely better film than the schlocky original. Its story is overly familiar and safe, but all the trappings around it make it a wild ride. Dinklage is excellent, anchoring the film down, and the newly redesigned Toxie is such a delight to watch. And there is a lot of world-building here, opening the door for plenty more unhinged and wild adventures for Toxie.
Rating: Liked It
The Toxic Avenger is currently playing in theaters
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