THE TOXIC AVENGER - UNCUT

***

Directed by Macon Blair 

Starring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon, Taylour Paige.  

Horror, United States, 103 minutes, Certificate 18 

Released in cinemas in the UK on August 29th 2025 by Signature Entertainment. 

It was a baking hot bank holiday Monday, and in a bid to escape both the sun and the swarm of holidaymakers, I ducked into my local cinema for a mystery horror screening. As I settled into the cool, dark theatre and the lights dimmed, I brimmed with anticipation. Would it be the creeping dread of the new CONJURING? Or the twisted terror of Jordan Peele produced HIM? 

Then the title hit the screen, and I nearly screamed, “Hell yeah!” To my absolute surprise and delight, it was the new TOXIC AVENGER remake. 

Let me start by saying I have a deep, undying love for those gloriously trashy Troma B-movies from the 1980s. Watching those cheap, nasty gems in my teens probably inspired my friends and me to grab a camcorder and make our own ridiculous little comedy shorts. So, while I was buzzing with excitement, I’ll admit I had a twinge of worry. Would this remake scrub off the grime and go all slick and shiny? 

Well, when two teens walked out halfway through in disgust, I knew my fears were unfounded. 

This new TOXIC AVENGER sticks close to the original plot. An underdog who has never caught a break ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, falls into a vat of toxic waste, and emerges as the super-powered, mop-wielding mutant hero. But this time, it is a star-studded affair. Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, and Elijah Wood, yes, really, are just a few of the names in the cast. 

And it is not just corrupt officials getting whacked with Toxy’s toxic mop. This version takes aim at Big Pharma too. Unlike the original, it is not just about tossing half-naked women on screen every five minutes. Sure, there are a few boobs, but they are swiftly followed by a swinging penis for balance. This film has actual heart. 

Dinklage brings real pathos to Toxy, and his scenes with his stepson, played by the ridiculously talented Jacob Tremblay, are genuinely touching. Their bond gives the story emotional weight, and it works. 

But do not be fooled by the added heart and social conscience. This is still a Troma film through and through. Dinklage and Tremblay may be the heart, but everyone else, especially Kevin Bacon, is pure ham. You can tell the cast is having a blast, chewing through the scenery as easily as Toxy’s mop melts through skulls. 

Speaking of skulls, the gore comes thick and fast. They do not hold back, and it is where the film delivers the most fun. It is a comedy gorefest, just like it has always been. Sure, not every joke lands, but the splatter will make you gasp and laugh in equal measure. 

If I had one gripe, it is that I wish they had sprinkled in more of the original cast for us Troma geeks. And maybe Elijah Wood could have had a bit more to do. But overall, this is a wild ride clearly made by people who genuinely love the original. 

As I left the cinema, I passed a crowd of bemused moviegoers trying to figure out what they had just watched. So here is your warning. Yes, it has a Hollywood cast and a bigger budget, but at its core, it is still a cheesy B-movie. It is not pretending to be anything else. 

Would I watch it again? Hell yeah. Would I go see a sequel? Absolutely. A bit of toxic-tainted nostalgia was the perfect way to end a sunny bank holiday weekend. 

Bev Tew