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[tab title="Movie Review"]
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There are two superheroes from New Jersey. The first, of course, is Bruce Springsteen. The second is Melvin Junko. Not ringing any bells? Well, you might know good ol’ tutu-wearin’ Melvin by his other name, The Toxic Avenger, and this month Troma Entertainment and founder Lloyd Kaufman celebrate the 30th anniversary of Toxie’s origin story with The Toxic Avenger blu-ray. Troma’s release praises all things toxic with a brand new transfer of the film and great supplemental material fans are surely going to dig.
To review a film as gloriously gonzo as this one is indeed an honor. Films as maniacally farcical as The Toxic Avenger are indeed a rarity. Never once do co-directors Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz shy away from their mission to amuse, disgust, and Troma-tize their audience. Hailing from 1984, The Toxic Avenger still has the zippy energy to entertain and make its 87 minutes running time feel like a mere five minute feast. In fact, for those of you wise enough to snag this release, I dare you to not be like me and watch it twice in one late-night sitting. The film is still so much fun that it is impossible not to.
Sure, sure. The acting is atrocious. The warped minds who wrote, produced, and filmed the script wouldn’t have it any other way either. Professionals? Who has any use (or money) for professionals? That’s the independent charm behind Toxie’s origins. The film works when every scene shot tells you it shouldn’t, couldn’t and wouldn’t work anywhere else. I suppose that’s the mark of a true Troma release. From Surf Nazis Must Die to The Class of Nuke’em High, this is a staple of Troma but it seems to work best here in the mutated world of Melvin Junko (Mark Torgl).
Without any money, Troma Entertainment managed to detail every aspect of the early 80’s perfectly. From the trash in the street to the horrible fashion of the moment, Troma wins the prize for their time capsule entry. Even the bubblegum pop music written for the movie is hilariously mocking the get fit now of the 1980’s while still wearing the decade’s leather and lace. The music in the gym where Melvin works is so ridiculously awesome that flashbacks are certain to be triggered. If you are a survivor of the early 1980’s you will recall that even Doctor Who (played at the time by Colin Baker) fell victim to the fitness fad.
You know the story. It might even be your story. A ridiculously clueless teenage janitor is bullied by street punks and their psychotic girlfriends. For enjoyment, these violent-hungry teens drive around neighborhoods looking for people to run over. They even have a rating and points earned system in place. They celebrate each head-popping kill by snapping Kodak moments and having kinky sex.
But Melvin, who they only see inside the local Tromaville health club, annoys them the most. The women con this 98lb weakling into wearing a tutu before he is chased out of a second story window and straight into a barrel of toxic waste. It is then that he mutates into the crime fighting, mop-wielding superhero known as The Toxic Avenger. His mission? Rip the limbs right off of all the criminals in the city and protect his blind girlfriend. He will quite literally mop up the city, sweep its filthy streets, and take out the trash; just like a good janitor is supposed to do. Make no bones about it, you need this title in your collection.
Kaufman appears to be on quite a roll in recent months. He had a much deserved cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy and, after announcing Troma Entertainment might step away from blus due to their production cost and low sales, surprises us all with the blu-ray release of The Toxic Avenger and its marketing statement of “Forty Years of True Independence”.
Cheesier than an entire block of pizza eateries, The Toxic Avenger will not leave you feeling bloated or leave you with those famous red sauce-inspired bad dreams. The movie celebrates the 80s and political incorrectness like few other titles. Bring Toxie home today.
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[tab title="Film Details"]
MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime: 87 mins
Director: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman
Writer: Joe Ritter
Cast: Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Babtist
Genre: Horror | Comedy | Sci-fi
Tagline: He was 98 lbs. of solid nerd until he became.
Memorable Movie Quote: "For your information, everyone knows monsters prefer blondes."
Distributor: Troma Entertainment
Official Site:
Release Date: May 1984
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: August 12, 2014
Synopsis: Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when mop boy Melvin Junko falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.
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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]
Blu-ray Details:
Available on Blu-ray - August 12, 2014
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: None
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0
Discs: 25GB Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD); DVD copy
Region Encoding: A
As a long-time fan of the film I honestly would have never thought The Toxic Avenger would ever see the light of day on a brand new hi-def Blu-ray. It’s as if the Tromaville gods have aligned as a superb new HD master of the classic Troma “superhero” movie in a print that makes the film look like it was shot yesterday – that is of course if yesterday we were all wearing the most ridiculous 80s fashions and didn’t give a shit about political correctness! Colors are bright and crisp and while some scratches and dirt appear on the transfer, the film doesn’t suffer in the least. Even if some of the effects don’t hold up in HD – for example there’s a scene in the restaurant fight where you can clearly see the join between the latex prosthetic on Toxie’s hand and the actor’s actual hand – the gore still looks as nasty as ever. In fact the clarity of the print makes some deaths even more grisly! The 2.0 Dolby Digital sound mix keeps the anarchy in order with crisp dialogue and solid effects.
Supplements:
Commentary:
- For this legendary release, fans get TWO fantastic commentaries that are entertaining and informative about the chaotic production history of the film. The first is with Lloyd Kaufman, who still has that magical wit, and the second is with stars Robert Prichard, Gary Schneider, and Dan Snow.
Special Features:
As you would expect from a Troma film there is a bundle of bonus material for this anniversary celebration of all things toxic. There is a new introduction from Kaufman, a special interview with Jennifer Baptist, a new video with Mark Torgl, new interviews from Michael Herz, Troma’s co-founder, and a gallery of rare production pictures. Troma trailers and various other promotional bits and pieces round out the collection, so there's plenty for Troma fans to indulge in.
Lloyd Kaufman Intro (4 min)
Jennifer Babtist Interview (19 min)
Robert Prichard Interview (3 min)
Mitch Cohen Interview (9 min)
Dan "Cigar Face" Snow Interview (5 min)
Mark Torgl’s Special Video (6 min)
Michael Herz Interview (15 min)
Behind the Scenes and In Production Slideshow (4 min)
40 Years of Troma (3 min)
Theatrical Trailer
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[tab title="Trailer"]
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