The Toxic Avenger was released in 1985
*The Toxic Avenger* is a 1985 American superhero dark comedy film directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman (credited as Samuel Weil). Produced by Troma Entertainment, known for low-budget, campy films produced a gory cult classic with “The Toxic Avenger*. The film starts with the immature antics of two couples hell bent on doing whatever they please; drunk driving and severe bullying. The film is over-the-top in it’s violence, and absurd humor, making it a significant piece of 1980s B-movie culture. (The violence is VERY GORY, and the special effects are pretty well done, NOT for children – Said to be worse than Hellraiser).
The film is set in the fictional town of Tromaville, New Jersey, known as the “Toxic Waste Dumping Capital of the World.” The subplot is against the evils of a corrupt capitalist society, where politicians and industrialist scheme, unbeknownst to the public who accept their fate because the powers that be “know better.” Unlike the preachy Woke movies of today, the scenes are so campy that the film comes off as fun. The towns-people even get inspired by their vigilante monster superhero, and decide to stand up to the corruption with him.
Melvin Ferd is a young, nerdy janitor at a local health club. He is constantly bullied by the gym’s customers (I know a few woke gyms who believe that this is REAL gym culture). A mean prank gone wrong, leads Melvin to fall into a vat of toxic waste. Inspired by the superhero genre of the Hulk, instead of killing him, the chemicals mutate Melvin into a grotesque, superhuman creature. His transformation gives him incredible strength and a distorted appearance, including bubbling skin and a monstrous physique.
Taking on the mantle of the “Toxic Avenger,” or “Toxie,” Melvin begins a quest against to protect the citizens of Tromaville. His new powers, give him the ability to recognize anyone who poses a threat to the innocent and he becomes a vigilante, brutally punishing criminals,and corrupt officials. Despite his violent methods, the people of Tromaville see him as a hero. The film follows Toxie as he cleans up, most gruesomely, the crime-ridden town.
The film’s use of hyperbolic violence and absurd humor pushes the boundaries of taste and decency to make a point. This over-the-top approach not only makes the film memorable, but also serves to critique the very elements it portrays. The grotesque transformation of Melvin into Toxie can be seen as a metaphor for the effects of environmental degradation and societal neglect. The film has spawned sequels, a stage musical, an animated children’s TV series (*Toxic Crusaders*), and even a yet to be released big-budget remake. Its character, Toxie, became an unlikely mascot for Troma Entertainment, symbolizing the independent spirit of low-budget filmmaking.
