The Toxic Avenger (1984)

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.

Directors:

Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman

Writers:

Lloyd Kaufman (story), Joe Ritter (screenplay),

Stars:

Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Prichard

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andree Maranda	...	Sara
Mitch Cohen	...	The Toxic Avenger (as Mitchell Cohen)
Jennifer Prichard	...	Wanda (as Jennifer Babtist)
Cindy Manion	...	Julie
Robert Prichard	...	Slug
Gary Schneider	...	Bozo
Pat Ryan	...	Mayor Peter Belgoody (as Pat Ryan Jr.)
Mark Torgl	...	Melvin Junko
Dick Martinsen	...	Officer O'Clancy
Chris Liano	...	Walter Harris
Dan Snow	...	Cigar Face
Doug Isbecque	...	Knuckles
Charles Lee Jr.	...	Nipples
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Leroy (as Pat Kilpatrick)
Larry Sulton	...	Frank

Storyline

This is the story of Melvin, the Tromaville Health Club mop boy, who inadvertently and naively trusts the hedonistic, contemptuous and vain health club members, to the point of accidentally ending up in a vat of toxic waste. The devastating results then have a transmogrification effect, his alter ego is released, and the Toxic Avenger is born, to deadly and comical results. The local mop boy is now the local Superhero, the saviour of corruption, thuggish bullies and indifference. Troma classic with good make-up effects and stunts, a pleasant surprise indeed.

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Plot Keywords:

health club | boy | toxic waste | mayor | corruption | 

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Taglines:

He'll go from cleaning nerd to cleaning crime-fighter.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Official Sites:

Officially sanctioned Toxic Avenger fan site Troma

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Health Club

Filming Locations:

Boonton, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$475,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Troma Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 82 min (unrated) 87 min 78 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There was no driver in the car we sent off the cliff, so I'm not sure who wrote this or why. We rigged the car to drive straight, gas pedal to the floor. ====> incorrect: The rollbar installed in the car that is wrecked off of a cliff malfunctioned, almost killing the stunt driver.

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Goofs

In the beginning when the narrator introduces us to Melvin, he introduces him as "Melvin Furd". In all the other Toxic Avenger sequels Melvin's last name is "Junko".

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Quotes

Officer O'Clancy: No way, you're wasting your time.
Cigar Face: That's where you're wrong. YOU'RE wasting our time. And now we're gonna waste you!

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Connections

Referenced in Lightning Bug (2004)

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Soundtracks

"NOTHING AT ALL"
Performed by Mark Hoffman and Race
Written by Mark Hoffman and Dean Simmons
Produced by Tony Camillo for Marc Katz and Royal K Productions

User Reviews

The "Citizen Kane," uh, Citizen Toxie of b-pictures...

For those that don't know, there are intentionally "bad" movies, and then there are intentionally bad movies; "The Toxic Avenger" is the latter. Troma Entertainment is the undisputed king of bad b-pictures, but the 1985 cult hit "The Toxic Avenger" ranks as their finest effort. Essentially a take on superhero movies and sci-fi pictures, "The Toxic Avenger" is Troma's "Citizen Kane."

With co-directors Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman at the helm, respective veep and president of Troma Entertainment, "The Toxic Avenger" begins with a humiliating prank gone horribly wrong. Melvin, the resident 90-pound geek and janitor of the Tromaville health club, is fooled into thinking a blonde bimbo wants him. But instead the prank, which involves a stuffed goat and pink tutu (don't ask), goes wrong and ends with Melvin diving out a second-story window and landing in a vat of misplaced toxic waste.

What emerges from the bubbly green goop is Tromaville, New Jersey's hideously deformed, bloodthirsty vigilante mutant monstrosity who sets out on a vendetta against all forms of evil in his hometown, particularly against the jocks (who are too sick to be believable) who made him what he is. Meanwhile, Toxie eventually finds romance with a blind woman who is unaware her boyfriend is responsible for the recent wave of gruesome vigilante killings (in essence, they're the perfect couple).

A sick and depraved sense of humor is flaunted throughout this low-budget film project, which is in itself (to the politically-correct), an inspired, mean-spirited, overtly racist, funny, and completely, utterly insane cult flick that also reveals a slight penchant for animal cruelty.

The acting is atrocious, the gore is plentiful and the low budget shines, but there's no question I loved this flick. Like any horror film, it's rightfully found its place in this film lover's heart.

Vote for Citizen Toxie in 2006!

10/10