Toxic Delays & Indie Vibes
The Toxic Avenger (2025) isn’t actually a 2025 movie—it was made in 2023 but spent two years in distribution hell. Why? Because Lionsgate reportedly thought it was unreleasable. Enter Cineverse, the same indie distributor that got Terrifier in theaters. They finally launched it with limited showings in late-night slots, even in Austin, TX (the supposed debut city). So yes, the film arrives with a ton of baggage—but is it worth the wait?
A Slow Burn into a Troma Bloodbath
The first half is rough. Like, almost walk out rough. The comedy doesn’t land. The characters are flat. And the pacing feels like a punishment. But then, out of nowhere, the Troma energy kicks in. Gore, gags, practical effects, and full-on camp light up the second half. It becomes the mutant mayhem fans were promised—but it takes a while to earn it.
Dinklage the Down-on-His-Luck Dad
Peter Dinklage stars as Winston Gooze, not Melvin like the original. He’s a broke, sick janitor taking care of his late girlfriend’s kid. It’s a more grounded, somber setup than the 1985 film. But that means the first act forgets to be fun. Dinklage tries, but his performance is uneven, wooden at times. Lucia Guerrero (in the Toxy suit) does more emotional lifting than he does. And no, Dinklage doesn’t play the mutated Toxy—they dub his voice over Guerrero’s physical acting, sometimes poorly.
What Works: The Practical Gore & Final Act Insanity
- Amazing creature effects
- Troma-level gore and absurd kills (toxic pee escape, exploding flips, intestines)
- A mutant chicken-headed goon that steals the movie
- A few laugh-out-loud moments in the final 30 minutes
- The mop returns and gets weaponized
What Doesn’t Work: A Wasted Cast & Sludge-Slow Start
- Kevin Bacon phones it in as the bland villain
- Elijah Wood is barely used and deeply confusing
- The first 45 minutes lack humor, action, or momentum
- Overlong setup, undercooked side characters
- Tries to be serious when it should be absurd
TheBigBois Reactions
The whole crew felt the same: the first half was brutal. Boring jokes, flat dialogue, and excessive setup. But once the gore and insanity kicked in, they had a blast. The film somehow redeems itself, even after a near-fatal start. It’s the rare film that starts at a 2/10 and ends at an 8/10.
Spoiler Section (⚠️): Chicken Mutants, Sludge Fights & Dick Lasers
- Dinklage gets turned into Toxy via toxic sludge + bullet wound
- Toxy pees off his restraints (yes, really)
- He uses his mop as a melee weapon throughout
- Villains include a Nazi cop, a psychotic punk band, and Kevin Bacon
- Final fight includes a goat-mutant Kevin Bacon, a sludge mop finish, and a flaming Cadillac kill
- The post-credits scene teases: Toxic Avenger vs. Dracula vs. Unicorn Man…in space…for crypto.
Should You Watch It?
Yes—if you’re into Troma films, horror comedy, or practical effects carnage. No, if you’re expecting sharp writing or a consistent tone. This is for late-night B-movie lovers, not general audiences.
A B-Movie That Needed a Better Beginning
The Toxic Avenger has heart, guts (literally), and that underground spirit. But it almost drowns itself with a miserable first act. With tighter writing and more front-loaded insanity, this could’ve been a cult classic. Instead, it’s a mixed bag—half mess, half magic.
The Toxic Avenger: Worth watching once it hits streaming, especially with drinks and friends. A Troma-flavored oddity that’s half dead weight, half demented fun. – Asmodeus