The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 17, 2023

When we last saw the Toxic Crusader, he saved Japan and Tromaville from Apocalypse Inc., using his monster gifts to protect the innocent from pollution and corporate abuse. True to form, Troma Entertainment isn’t about to let their cash-cow take a rest, reviving the “superhero from New Jersey” for 1989’s “The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie,” a sequel that basically admits defeat from the opening act. Loud and cheaply made, the continuation of the saga tries to sustain irreverence and gore, utilizing Troma’s silly sense of humor to fuel yet another round of one-liners and lethargic battles. The creative tank is clearly out of gas for this follow-up, but that doesn’t stop directors Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz from trying to staple together a continuation made out of random ideas and footage from “The Toxic Avenger Part II.”

After saving the world from Apocalypse Inc., The Toxic Avenger (played by Ron Fazio and John Altamura) settles back into life in Tromaville with his blind girlfriend, Claire (Phoebe Legere). Without evil to battle, life begins to bore Toxie, who works odd jobs to pay the bills, but still can’t make enough money. Learning of an eye transplant operation that could restore Claire’s sight, Toxie is tasked to find $357,000 to pay for the procedure. Sensing an opportunity, the Apocalypse Inc. Chairman (Rick Collins) tempts Toxic with a contract to become his assistant, giving the monster his money in exchange for publicity and enforcer efforts that help the polluting corporation as it gradually destroys Tromaville. Trading his soul for his love, Toxie is left to question his destructive actions.

For additional information and analysis, please read the 2015 Blu-ray review.

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

The UHD release for "The Toxic Avenger Part III" is an obvious improvement on the previous Blu-ray release, doing especially well with detail. Textures are appreciable throughout the viewing experience (outside of softer opticals), examining skin particulars and makeup achievement, and wild costuming is fibrous. Tromaville tours are dimensional, with deep exteriors. Interiors are also open for inspection, with plenty of decorative additions to examine. Gory events are also precise. Colors are alive, with rich toxic greens on monster characters. Style choices are alert, showcasing bright pinks and reds. Primaries are sharp as well. Greenery is exact. Blacks are deep. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is satisfactorily resolved. Source is in good condition, with some wear and tear and brief displays of damage.

Please note that I did have to try two UHD players to get this disc to play properly, and I recommend checking your own copy right away to confirm player compatibility.

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Improved audio is a welcome addition to the UHD release, with the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix presenting a clearer sound for "The Toxic Avenger Part III." Well, as clear as a Troma production can get. Dialogue exchanges are intelligible, capturing performance choices with some balance. Scoring supports with decent clarity, while soundtrack selections are a bit more chaotic. Sound effects are blunt.

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

UHD

• Intro (1:33, HD) joins Troma Entertainment honcho Lloyd Kaufman in the Troma wardrobe department, where he shares Toxic Avenger fan art and details his desire to "stay in the underground," refusing the lure of corporate filmmaking.

• Commentary #1 features co-writer/director Lloyd Kaufman.

• Commentary #2 features actor Joe Flieshaker.

Blu-ray

• Intro (3:33, SD) catches up with Troma President Lloyd Kaufman in Denmark, where he welcomes viewers to the "Last Temptation of Toxie" Blu-ray and finds a pair of locals who love to mock him.

• Commentary #1 features co-writer/director Lloyd Kaufman.

• Commentary #2 features actor Joe Flieshaker.

• "Make Your Own Damn Horror Film" (11:26, SD) follows Kaufman to the set of "Old 37," a horror picture starring Kane Hodder and Bill Moseley. Arriving to film a cameo, Kaufman kills time interviewing the cast and crew, trying to impart low-budget moviemaking tips while quizzing the professionals on their jobs. Interestingly, the director, Christian Winters, who doesn't seem to understand what he's doing, eventually took his name off the final product.

• "A Halloween Carol" (9:54, HD) stars Kaufman in a reworking of "A Christmas Carol," only here spirits from beyond visit the face of Troma to show him what a world without the company's releases on YouTube would be like.

• "'Rabid Grannies' on Blu-ray" (1:56, HD) is faux infomercial for what was one of the worst BD releases of 2015. Don't believe Kaufman's promise of a "crystal clear" HD upgrade.

• "Radiation March" (:56, SD) is a short dance piece concerning the dangers of pollution.

• "TroMoMa" (11:40, HD) follows Lloyd Kaufman into the Museum of Modern Art, celebrating the selection of "Return to Nuke 'Em High: Volume 1" as part of "The Contenders" film series. Nerves are shared along with a Q&A, and the evening is capped with a Bollywood- style dance on stage.

• "40 Years of Troma" (2:03, SD) is a short appreciation of the studio's achievements.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:00, SD) is included.

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The feature saves most of its energy for a 45-minute-long finale, where the superhero does battle with The Devil, who challenges Toxie to a video game-inspired test of endurance, which includes a fire fight and a race to save a school bus filled with kids (film reversal being the moviemakers' favorite tool). The climax is roughly made up of 90% screaming, keeping it hard on the senses as it drags out for what feels like years, but makeup efforts are ambitious, and the production is certainly out to please with an orgy of violence. Sadly, much of "The Last Temptation of Toxie" is too slapdash to truly matter, quickly burying the few intriguing ideas that manage to surface during the run time.