The Toxic Avenger Reboot: A Campy, Gory Masterpiece That Shouldn’t Work—But Gloriously Does

The second this reboot was announced, my excitement was toxic-level high — but as a kid raised on the original blood-soaked Troma chaos, I wasn’t sure it could live up to the "so bad its amazing" aura of the original films. I was gleefully happy to find that this reboot didn’t even have to. 

Funny and meta as hell, The Toxic Avenger owns and embraces the campy, blood-splattered aesthetic of classic Troma that any child of the 80’s & 90’s knows, loves and nostalgically looks back on with a snail and shake of the head. 41 years after the original film's release, what we get is essentially a big-budget Troma film featuring their flagship character — the kind of thing you never thought you’d see but always secretly hoped for.

Despite the polish, it keeps the heart and DIY aesthetic of Troma intact. This isn’t Hollywood trying to “fix” a cult classic; it’s a love letter to Troma that wears the Tromaville badge proudly, oozing with homage and reverence. From the sleazy gags to the grindhouse energy, this movie knows exactly what it is, flaunts it and then doubles down on the excess while never losing its self-awareness. The subtle wink of sT. ROMA plastered on things to the inclusion of a character named Melvin Ferd as a nod to the original Toxie character is a smart touch — respectful without being precious.

Peter Dinklage gives a performance as heartfelt as it is grotesque. As Winston/Toxie, he perfectly balances the absurd camp with unexpected depth grounding the madness proving even a toxic monster can shine with soul. At its core, the film is about family — Dinklage and Jacob Tremblay’s relationship carries the heart, giving the carnage weight and the retribution meaning. It gives the gore a soul, with a clear arc of pain, loss, love, and retribution.

Kevin Bacon's performance as the film baddie, snake oil salesmen disguised as a pharma pioneer Bob Garbinger, is so over-the-top, so gleefully absurd, that it feels like he’s channeling Nicolas Cage on his wildest day. It’s pure chaos, but chaos mixed with greed, and fear wrapped in bloodlust ridiculousness.

Bottom line? This isn’t just a reboot — it’s a gloriously unhinged celebration of Troma, a toxic sludge bath of gore, goof, and genuine love for the genre and of course….New Jersey. 

Go run to the theatre and see this with friends! You won’t be disappointed! And if you are, at least you’ll know you’re helping erase unpaid medical debt! 

RATING: 8/10