The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker February 14, 2026

Breathing new life into the first superhero from New Jersey, Macon Blair's 'The Toxic Avenger (2023)' arrives on Blu-ray disc courtesy of Cineverse. Based on the classic Troma character, the newer, bigger budget film stars Peter Dinklage ('Game of Thrones'), Kevin Bacon ('Tremors'), and Elijah Wood ('The Lord of the Rings'). The Blu-ray disc boasts solid technical merits, and a light, but interesting assortment of on-disc extras are available for the film's fans. A slipcover is also included, but a Digital Code is not.

Founded in 1974, Troma's early output is probably best remembered for a handful of comedies and 1980's Mother's Day, a rape-revenge film in a similar vein as the genre standard I Spit on Your Grave (1978) , which had come out just two years prior. While Mother's Day is nowhere near as challenging or graphic as that film, it does effectively wallow in its own turpitude in order to unsettle and frighten viewers. None of these projects, however, would offer a hint as to what was in store for fans of independent film in 1984.

The Toxic Avenger (1984) is undoubtedly the film (and franchise) most closely associated with Troma. For film fans of all stripes, Toxie's grotesque visage is as instantly recognizable as that of Troma co-founder Lloyd Kaufman with his trademark impish grin. The original film was something of a triumph of DIY determination over resources, made for a purported budget of just $500,000 (about $1.6 million in today's dollars). Acting skills were uneven but performances were undeniably committed and charming. The film's practical effects were gloriously gory and inventive, even if some betrayed their secrets and telegraphed to audiences how they were done. Sets weren't overly grand, with real world locations and adequately dressed studio spaces providing just enough of a world for the characters to inhabit and explore. Social commentary bubbled up as often as the gratuitous nudity. It was an undeniably small film that performed well above its weight class, spawning three direct sequels, and, somewhat inexplicably, a Saturday morning cartoon series. The original film has enjoyed a number of Blu-ray releases, the best being Refuse Films' 2024 release which is staked with a wealth of on-disc supplemental material. Those looking to pick up the entire franchise are best served by Troma's The Toxic Avenger Collection 4K .

Some 40 years on, as is the rich cinematic tradition, Macon Blair provides the franchise with something of a reboot, changing the names the town from Tromaville to St. Roma's Village, and the main protagonist from Mark Torgl's Melvin Ferd to Peter Dinklage's Winston Gooze. While these modifications are no doubt engineered to create a certain amount of separation between this film and the original, age and dirt mar the sign at the outskirts of town so that to fans it will read "Welcome to Tromaville", and a character named Melvin Ferd does appear in the film, just not where he's expected. Various nods to the original film and other Troma productions are found in many shots. From the local high school being named "New Chemistry High" (think "New Chem High") along with an enthusiastic coach who boasts "New Chem is gonna nuke 'em!" for those who may have missed the quick aside in reference to Troma's 1986 classic Class of Nuke 'Em High. The Belgoody name appears around town, Dinklage's Winston dons a pink tutu, and a young boy with a bike a helmet figures prominently into a scene, though again, just not where expected, while the original's most controversial scene is given a new twist as well. And, of course, there is the obligatory dose of Motörhead.

For all of the nods and homages delineated above, and the dozens of others fans will spot on repeat viewings, the new film differs from the original rather significantly. Most dramatically, there is a substantial tonal shift between the two. The 1984 film, for it's occasional nastiness, kept comedy in the forefront, either by virtue of the overt jokes, sight gags, or just plain ridiculousness that underpinned everything. The over-the-top performances from those in the rogue's gallery also amplified the comedic tone. Blair's film has comedic elements and moments, but it's a much more gritty and serious affair as is most clearly evidenced by the differing dispositions of the films' pre-transformation protagonists. Torgl's Melvin was an oblivious bumbler who generated the audience's sympathy purely by making it seem ghoulishly cruel to bully and traumatize such a cartoonishly myopic simpleton. Dinklage's Winston, however, is a middle-aged man who still mourns his deceased wife, is struggling to raise his troubled step-son, is deeply in debt, and whose spirit has been crushed by the system and the world in which he lives. He's trying, but he's relatively bereft of hope.

The budget for the new film is dramatically larger, coming it at approximately $30 million vs. the original's adjusted $1.6 million. With the grander budget, the new film looses most, if not all of the original's DIY sensibilities. While that was part of the original's charm and appeal, it would likely have proven unsuccessful to attempt to replicate that aesthetic. Some of that translates strongly into world-building not only on the streets that comprise Winston's neighborhood, but also smaller environments such as the Miss Meat restaurant where Toxie first earns the public's adoration. From the outside the numerous advertising slicks in the windows replicate the look of a modern fast food joint. Inside, though, the illusion is even more fully realized, with a richly detailed (and hilarious) menu, serving wear, marketing material, and the like.

The new film makes it's budget known in casting decisions as well. The first film featured players who would go on to enjoy varying levels of success over the duration of their careers, with a pre-fame Marisa Tomei even haunting some scenes. Here, though, Blair's film is populated with several well-known names which serve not only to grant the film visibility, but also elevate the expectations of the finished product. Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, Elf) provides is Winston with a world-weariness cribbed from his Tyrion Lannister, though this character lacks the nobleman's cunning. Elijah Wood (The Lord of the Rings) appears under a mountain of makeup as a gnarled head of security that seems to be at least partially inspired by Danny Devito's turn as the villainous Penguin in Tim Burton's Batman Returns. Most surprising of all, though, is omnipresent actor Kevin Bacon taking on the role of the film's main antagonist, and proving he can chew the scenery with the best of them when the role calls/allows for it. And this one certainly does. Several other well-known personages also appear, such as David Yow, front man of the band The Jesus Lizard, in a small but pivotal role. Doctor Who fans will also recognize Annette Badland, here a downtrodden shopkeeper, there more forcefully squaring off against Christopher Eccleston's Doctor as one of the Slitheen, a hostile alien race with unsavory plans for the Earth. It: Welcome to Derry's Taylour Page plays a significant role here, and Nighty Night's Julia Davis gets to enjoy a diabolical transformation and trashy fight scene. This all conspires to ensure that acting performances aren't as uneven as they were some forty years ago, and bringing Toxie more mainstream credibility.

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Toxic Avenger (2023) has been a pleasing 1080p transfer. Fine detail is high, allowing viewers to appreciate the age and wear on the furnishings of Winston's apartment, and the general urban decay of his his neighborhood and the declining storefronts that line his streets. Character details can also easily be investigated, such as Winston's scruffy beard, fine lines and wrinkles on Bob Garbinger's face, and the stringy hair and make-up that define Fritz Garbinger's twisted visage. Skin tones are healthy withing the film's palette when is appropriate for the characters in question for them to be so. Colors here appear slightly desaturated, and in the film's grungy world, there are few moments for primaries to pop. Blacks are convincing, but character and environmental details are at risk in the film's darker moments, where shadow gradations are lacking.

The Toxic Avenger Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is a solid sidekick for The Toxic Avenger and aggressively lets viewers know it is up to the task in the very first scene. From it's hushed beginning as Melvin and J.J. discuss the latest developments in their investigation into BTH, their subdued voices are crystal clear and sit neatly on top of the ambient music and sound effects. Once the The Killer Nutz arrive, things escalate. Sounds of the break-in and their maniacal laughter echo through surrounds, as do the numerous gunshots. Musical stings briefly dominate and retreat, with crunchy guitars and punchy percussion, and powerful LFE support. Horns are bright and brassy when brought into the mix. Dialogue is typically front and center, and remains understandable and defect-free throughout. While not persistently immersive, it is so frequently enough to provide a lively viewing experience. Directionality is accurate and realistic. It's a great track.

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

Cineverse's The Toxic Avenger features a modest assortment of supplemental features as below.

• Director Commentary with Macon Blair - Blair begins by stating that he, based on test screenings, was resistant to the film's flash-forward introduction. He is quick to discuss references, influences, trivia, and "Easter Eggs", in addition to the characters and the actors playing them. He is occasionally silent to watch the action on the scree, but such moments rarely last very long. He also discusses the one effects addition to the film that resulted in this iteration being unrated. Blair covers the backlot in Bulgaria used as the urban setting for the film, and the influence of other films on the film's sets. Blair does a very good job recognizing out members of the production for their numerous and important contributions. It's a very relaxed commentary.

• A Toxic Environment: Best of Behind-the-Scenes (13.06) - The face of Troma, Lloyd Kaufman, kicks this segment off, with Macon Balir, Elija Wood, and others appearing throughout. The prevailing theme to their comments is the film's quest to remain true to the original, to stay squarely in R-rated territory in terms of gore and other elements, to have a strong emotional core, and, of course, to mix in a healthy dose of satire and social commentary. Here, the most meaningful reveal is that Dinklage does not ever actually don the Toxic Avenger make-up and prosthetics. That assignment fell to Louisa Guerreiro.

• Toxic Shock with Tiffany Shepis (10.14) - After a narration that recaps Toxie's prior cinematic adventures, Shepis appears to discuss the Toxie we need now.

• 40th Anniversary of The Toxic Avenger (15.03) - The Horror 101 podcast's Dr. AC hosts a split-screen panel discussion with Barry Under Your Bed, Lucy Ba'al, and Chad the Bird. The colorful crew discuss their introduction to Toxic Avenger films, and then provide a recap of each of the original films.

• Trailer (2.45)

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

As Troma titan Tiffany Shepis enthusiastically points out in one of the extras, this is the Toxie our world needs. The character and the film are still cartoonish in their way, but to attempt to recapture the 1984 film's absurdity would have felt disingenuous and out of touch. The world has changed since Toxie was first unleashed, and the first superhero from New Jersey needed to change with it. Dinklage, both as Winston and vocally as The Toxic Avenger, crafts characters better suited to the times. The film, for all of it's seriousness and graphic (and occasionally CGI) gore and mayhem, never keeps comedy, satire, and social commentary far out of reach. Not replacing the original by any means, the updates and the cast provide a viable pathway to more toxic adventures. Highly recommended