The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker June 8, 2025

The inaugural title in Refuse Films' TromArchive Collection, 'The Toxic Avenger' arrives on Blu-ray in this stacked release. Likely the best-known entry in Troma's extensive catalog, the film follows Melvin (Mark Torgl) as the put-upon "mop boy" who, after a incident of bullying gone way too far, returns to punish evildoers after he transforms into the horrifically disfigured Toxic Avenger. The release sports three cuts of the film, including the longer Japanese cut and the Director's Cut sourced from the 2023 4K restoration. The release includes a dump truck load of on-disc supplemental features including multiple commentaries, cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes, and hours more. The slipcovered edition is limited to 3,000 units. This release is available directly from the Refuse Films website.

For fans of low-budget films with a love of horror, irreverent (and tasteless) dark humor, gratuitous nudity, and the occasional glimpse of a future Hollywood star, few studios check all the boxes in the manner that Troma does. While their catalog, crafted over several decades and loaded with titles hoping to cash in current trends, may be a bit uneven, the mere presence of their logo provides viewers with a good idea what to expect. Some may see it and instantly turn away. For me, it's an irresistible siren's song. But out of the hundreds of films they've had their hand in, one of their films truly stands above all others. The Toxic Avenger. Few of Troma's releases have ever reached its heights in terms of name recognition, quality, charm, poor taste, camp, and outright insanity.

For an appreciation of the film, please follow this link.

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The enclosed notes provide a bit of detail about the three cuts of The Toxic Avenger included here. The 1985 Japanese Cut (SD Open Matte) runs just over 1 hour and 35 minutes. It contains just over ten minutes of scenes and extended monologues that were excised from the Director's Cut. As the tape master could not be located, its sourced from a PAL DVD master. It's a perfectly watchable presentation, but fine detail, color saturation and stability, skin tones, and and black levels understandably fail to reach the levels of the HD iteration. The 1997 Director's Cut (SD Open Matte) was found on Troma's initial DVD release of the film and runs just shy of 1 hour and 23 minutes and is sourced from a DigiBeta master. Colors, delination, skin tones, and fine detail all fare noticeably better than the Japanese Cut. But the obvious best viewing option is the 2023 Director's Cut (HD Widescreen), which was derived from the 2023 4K restoration from the original camera negative. It's is 48 seconds shorter than it's predecessor, and uses the same scan that was previously only available in the 8-disc The Toxic Avenger Collection 4K. Completists will no doubt be thrilled to have the two older cuts available, especially the Japanese cut, and it is certainly interesting for the differences it offers. For me, though, the 2023 restoration is the real treat. Fine detail was consistently high throughout, providing excellent looks at '80s fashions, hairstyles, and Toxie's make-up effects. Primaries, particularly red, pop vibrantly. Colors are richly saturated. Grain resolves naturally. Some damage and softness is visible from time to time, but it's a wonderful transfer.

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Included here is the original English 2.0 Stereo sourced from the 2023 Troma Team Blu-ray Master. While a bit dated and a tad limited as one would expect given it's age and low-budget origins, it's nevertheless a solid companion to the film. Dialogue is typically clean and intelligible. Music is effectively rendered, as are sound effects, but both can sound a bit thin to modern ears. Some may have wished for a more advanced and nuanced audio option, but for most viewers, this "vintage" track is all that's really needed.

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

As with their stellar release of Cannibal! The Musical, Refuse Films' release of The Toxic Avenger features an incredible amount of on-disc supplemental material providing hours of entertainment all on their own.

Audio Commentaries

• 2024 Mark Torgl Commentary - Moderated by Zack Beins of Talkin' Troma, Marc Torgl begins by talking about getting his start with Troma by being the script supervisor on The First Turn-On and acting on the film as well, which led to his casting as Melvin. He also covers Kaufman and Herz's directing style, Marissa Tomei being on-set, Madonna auditioning for The First Turn-On, receiving a real burn during the transformation scene, and his friendship with Jennifer Aspinall. Torgl's recollection is excellent as he shares information on a variety of subjects no matter how obscure.

• 2014 Toxie Cast Commentary - Sourced from the 2014 Troma Team Blu-ray Master, Dan Snow, Robert Prichard, and Gary Schneider talk about their memories from filming, covering everything from casting, to locations, to ow certain shots were done. The trio occasionally fall silent, but it's an interesting listen nonetheless.

• 2005 Lloyd Kaufman Commentary - Sourced from the 2005 Troma Team DVD Master, for the 21st anniversary, Kaufman talks about filming in widescreen, working at the health club, the inspiration for the head-crushing scene. It's a wide-ranging and sometimes tongue- in-cheek track.

• 1996 Lloyd Kaufman Commentary - Sourced from the 1996 Troma Team DVD Master, Kaufman is a font of information and trivia, talking about taking inspiration from The Three Stooges, shooting in Shinbone Alley, the origin of Toxie's tutu, special effects, and an endless array of other topics in an astonishingly serious tone.

Deleted Scenes

• 1998 Deleted Scenes From Director's Cut (6.33) - A number of deleted scenes, are included, with the one involving Toxie getting a home-cooked meal being the most interesting.

Cast and Crew Interviews

• 2024 Lloyd Kaufman Interview (13.11) - Filmed by Refuse Films in California, the ever energetic Kaufman discusses censorship, including the massive amount of cuts initially required by the MPAA. Kaufman's comments are intermixed with vintage footage, behind the scenes material, and trailers. particular attention is paid to the infamous head squashing scene, Mayor Belgoody's punishment, the cartoon series, and shares which of the four Toxie movies is his favorite.

• 2024 Jennifer Aspinall (5.42) - Moderated by Chris Lanphear of Loudspeaker Studios, Aspinall discusses getting started in special effects make-up on The Toxic Avenger, her inspiration for Toxie's look, and the film's most controversial scene.

• 2014 Mark Torgl Interview (6.24) - Sourced from the 2014 Troma Team Blu-ray master, the original Melvin the Mop Boy shows some original props and makes afew joke at Lloyd Kaufman's expense before plugging his then-current project.

• 2014 Jennifer Baptist Interview (18.40) - Sourced from the 2014 Blu-ray master, Baptist shares some stories from her time working on Class of Nuke 'Em High and as Wanda in The Toxic Avenger. She also discusses the casting process, hear early career, her nude scenes, her Playboy appearance, and is eventually joined by her daughter.

• 2006 Michael Herz Interview (15.24) - Sourced from the 2005 Troma Team DVD master, Lloyd Kaufman interviews Herz at his desk at Troma where he talks about how he got into the movie business, co-directing with Kaufman, the inspiration for The Toxic Avenger and driving various vehicles in the sequels.

• 2006 Dan Snow Interview (4.39) - Sourced from the 2005 Troma Team DVD master, the original Cigar Face talks about working with Troma, working on location, and the enduring legacy of the film.

• 2005 Mitch Cohen Interview (8.40) - Sourced from the 2005 Troma Team DVD master, the original Toxic Avenger recalls the casting process, the extensive make-up, shooting on Canal Street, the scene at the Mexican restaurant, stunt work, and gives a tour of his current workplace.

• 2005 Robert Prichard Interview (2.37) - Prichard (Slug) remembers his experience filming the movie in general and his death scene in particular.

• 2005 Sarabel Levinson Interview (1.20) - Levinson shares a few memories from casting and the shoot.

Tromarchival Extras

• 2002 Where in the World is Toxie? (40.35) - Sourced from the 2002 Troma Team DVD Master, follow Lloyd and Toxie to various festivals around the world from Japan to Holland with surprise appearances from Udo Kier, Xaviera Hollander, Brian Yuzna, and others.

• 2002 Troma's EDGE TV Ep. 1 of 20 (24.12) - Sourced from the 2000 DigiBeta Master, this premier episode features everything one would expect from such a show including Toxic Avenger-related "how-to" segment.

• 1998 Toxie 15 Years Later (3.54) - Sourced from the 1998 Troma Team DVD Master, this segment provides a look at Toxie's off-screen life.

• 1998 Mop Boy's Secrets (5.03) - Sourced from the 1998 Troma Team DVD Master, Mark Torgl shares memories accompanied by scenes from the film.

• 1997 Troma Studio Tour (16.40) - Sourced from the 1998 Troma Team DVD Master, Kaufman leads viewers on a tour of Troma HQ.

• 1996 Troma basement Ep. 1 of 16 (7.06) - Sourced from the 1996 BetaSP Master, Miss Troma and the rest of the team cover a number of subjects this episode, and Miss Troma plays a board game with Toxie.

• 1996 Tromaville Cafe Ep. The Death of Toxie (4.55) - Sourced from the 1996 Troma Team DVD Master, this episode attempts to solve the riddle of Toxie's apparent murder.

• 1993 The Troma System (28.44) - Sourced from the 1993 BetaSP Master, this informercial-style segment markets at VHS tape of 15 Troma movie trailers.

• 1984 Toxie Rare TV Spots (5.14) - Sourced from various digital masters, this is a collection of Toxie promos.

Tromatic Excess

• Troma Trailer Tape 1 (13.54) - Enjoy trailers of several Troma films.

• Troma Team Video Toxie Intros (31.26) - Kaufman and Herz talk Toixe, and Kaufman discusses censorship and provides a description of deleted scenes, among other material.

• Toxie Video Photo Gallery (4.19) - A collection of images progress automatically.

• Toxie Digital Excess (1:33.26) - Beginning with a vintage commercial for Toxic Crusaders toys, this is a collection of various television spots, promos, and other ephemera. Kevin Smith appears, Anabella Rich from Eating Miss Campbell promotes Refuse Films new release of The Toxic Avenger, various Hollywood A-listers who got their start at Troma are highlighted, and a mountain of others short pieces are found here.

• Radiation March (0.54) - The ever-present Troma extra.

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Words like "classic" get thrown around pretty easily. Oftentimes it seems to be simply a convenient (or lazy) adjective used by some to replace more common descriptors like, "good", "great", or the equally too commonplace "amazing". But if one judges what constitutes a classic by it's endurance, it's ever-expanding legion of fans, it's cultural (and cinematic) influence and continued relevance, and, in this instance, its function as a highwater mark of low-budget filmmaking, then Troma's The Toxic Avenger certainly meets that definition. Over forty years since this unusual and dark hero started cleaning up the mean streets of Tromaville, the film is as fresh and entertaining as it's ever been, and it perfectly and concisely encapsulates everything that makes Troma's films unique. Refuse's new release of the 1984 classic is decked out with a dizzying array of on-disc supplemental material and three different presentations of the film from which to choose, one of which is the newly remastered 2023 Director's Cut. The film looks and sounds better than ever, and the extras make it the most complete release of the film to date. Very highly recommended.