Unrated

THE TOXIC AVENGER follows a down-on-his-luck widower who suffers an industrial accident that turns him into a powerful mutant. He targets the head of a pharmaceutical company to clean up the town of corruption and crime.

In the 80s, THE TOXIC AVENGER helped build the Troma schlock house. The original film was a teen sexcapade with Toxie fighting bullies in a gym. Now, he tackles bigger issues like corporate greed and the health care crisis.

Does this make the new film better? Not necessarily. There was a comfort to the original’s focus on over-the-top splatter filmmaking with a corny plot and loads of jiggle factor.

In this version, Peter Dinklage takes his role way more serious than he probably should, while Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood chew the scenery as bad guys. It’s all in good fun.

THE TOXIC AVENGER is a wild ride, thought I do miss the days of Troma’s gritty, low-budget exploitation films with zero regrets.

THE TOXIC AVENGER gets three mops out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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