Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		2.0
Audio		2.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		2.5

Troma's War Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 24, 2015

After finding success with “The Toxic Avenger” and “Class of Nuke ‘Em High,” Troma Entertainment decided to get serious with 1988’s “Troma’s War.” At least as serious as director Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz are willing to get while still clinging to fart jokes. Attempting to simulate political commentary in the midst of Troma-branded slapstick carnage, “Troma’s War” emerges as a particularly confused production, lost somewhere between a need to play the entire movie as broadly as possible and a desire to communicate the fallibility of the military-minded 1980s, with Kaufman and Herz manufacturing a response to Regan’s America that never gels as imagined. A loud, bloody, unfunny display of tastelessness, the picture has its moments of Troma-stamped shenanigans, but the overall effort is missing clarity of plot and a more devious display of satire.

After a plane crash occurs on a tropical island, the survivors gather to make sense of the situation and plan their return home. In the mix are natural-born leader Taylor (Sean Bowen), crusty Vietnam vet Parker (Rick Washburn), dazed Lydia (Carolyn Beauchamp), elderly Dottie (Jessica Dubin), and secret agent Marshall (Steven Crossley). While they bicker over decision-making power, a greater threat greets the group as a pair of terrorist groups set out to hunt the new arrivals, with plans to transform the innocents into soldiers as the evildoers plan a mass invasion of America. Refusing to bow to any foreign enemy, the survivors retaliate, growing comfortable with weapons and murder as they make a play for control of the island.

“Troma’s War” actually gets off on the right foot, exploring the aftermath of the plane crash, which has scattered victims everywhere, tormenting those lucky to be alive with the inescapable sight of dead bodies. Some have given in to madness, with the rest determined find a way off the island, creating a community of disparate temperaments forced to unite to survive. Characterizations are big, but necessarily so, as Kaufman and Herz corral an impressively large cast to fill up not only the heroes, but the terrorists as well, packing the frame with unusual faces and body types. “Troma’s War” quickly becomes a carnival environment where the painted and the panicked join forces for a common cause, extending to band The Bearded Clams, who stand strong with the survivors, and Col. Jennings (Rick Collins), the literal pig-faced leader of the terrorists, who snorts and squeals orders, playing into some level of political parody that’s normally reserved for the Sunday newspaper. Not helping is the make-up, which is lousy.

Kaufman and Herz have all the passion in the world for the picture, but “Troma’s War” can be a frustrating sit. The production isn’t big on sharing crucial details, leaving the particulars of the separate groups and their ultimate mission to the final act, allowing a full hour to go by without much in the way of exposition. In fact, it takes about 40 minutes before a character openly asks who the terrorists are, sharing confusion already experienced by the viewer. Granted, storytelling isn’t a Troma strength, yet the feature has a design of satire that feels unfulfilled, with more attention placed on the positioning of squibs, with bullet hits the dominate force of the production. Violence is raw and splattery, and “Troma’s War” pays attention to other horrors as well, with rape, snakebites, and tongue-tearing torture joining the festivities, and there’s a faction of the enemy that’s planning to weaponize AIDS, securing the picture’s mid-1980s view of the disease. There’s no shortage on unpleasant business in the endeavor, but what’s unsettling is how joyless everything is, missing the wiggly macabre tone that typically informs Troma efforts. There are some mean-spirited passages in the movie, dampening its freewheeling tone.

Troma's War Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Continuing their absurdly uneven track record with Blu-ray releases, Troma issues an AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation in 1080i that resembles a particularly fussy streaming viewing experience. Macroblocking is everywhere, surging in intensity as the feature unfolds, blocking up what might've been a passable HD event, as evidence by a few secure moments of clarity. Scratches, speckling, and frame jumps are also detected. Again, detail isn't secured, but there are select scenes where definition kicks in to a modest degree, permitting a look at subpar make-up effects and decent stunt work. Colors seem appropriate for the B-movie, with a passable display of primaries and pastels, while jungle greenery is comfortable. Delineation isn't strong, losing frame information during darkly lit encounters.

Troma's War Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 Dolby Digital sound mix provides nothing but the basics, and even those are threatened by age and damage. Hiss is prominent and popping is persistent during the listening experience, challenging the elements to a distracting degree. Dimension is lost, with a flat, crispy track detailing only the thinnest of dialogue exchanges. However, intelligibility remains, preserving dialogue exchanges and group activity, only there's no depth or power. Scoring is thin and unremarkable. Atmospherics handle jungle treks and violence without true immersion.

Troma's War Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (2:50, HD) features Lloyd Kaufman held at gunpoint by an obese man in a Toxic Avenger mask, sharing some trivia about "Troma's War" and playing up the feature's role as a "training film" for U.S. military forces.

• Commentary features Kaufman.

• "War Memories" (19:56, HD) sits down with Kaufman and co-director Michael Herz to discuss the legacy of "Troma's War" nearly three decades after its initial theatrical release. Instead of warm memories, the pair digs into the MPAA, which demanded harsh cuts to secure an R-rating, helping to water down the feature to such a degree, Troma fans thought their filmmaking heroes were selling out. Old friends and longstanding business partners, Kaufman and Herz share an easy interplay, almost bordering on a comedy team. The info contained here is interesting, as is a chance to see the reclusive Herz in front of a camera.

• "London's War" (1:13, SD) is a weirdly brief snippet of commentary from cinematographer James A. Lebovitz, who went by the pseudonym "James London" while working on "Troma's War."

• "Post War Reflection" (4:54, SD) is a reunion featurette hosted by Kaufman (circa 1999), who welcomes actors Sean Bowen, Jessica Dubin, and Joe Fleishaker into Troma headquarters to discuss the making and characterization of "Troma's War." High jinks ensue.

• "Veteran's Day" (9:36, SD) follows filmmaker Pericles Lewnes as he travels into a Staten Island basement to meet with Fleishaker, who, due his size, is unable to walk. The pair chat about their shared history with Troma (Pericles directed "Redneck Zombies") and the sexualized energy of the "Troma's War" set.

• Interview (3:29, SD) with weapons coordinator/actor Rick Washburn is a short but flavorful chat conducted by Kaufman, sharing stories about injuries and gun design.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:31, SD) is included.

Troma's War Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Troma's War" doesn't know if wants to be an indictment of the Reagan war machine and right-wing sensibilities, or a goofball war film where Dottie becomes a Rambo-style action figure. The movie isn't lacking momentum, but it's missing focus. Stunt work is impressive, with Kaufman and Herz parading around fire gags and falling bodies, generating a level of low-budget chaos they adore, but an overall sense of purpose tends fall apart the longer the picture remains in a state of confusion. "Troma's War" is explosive, but it's never exhilarating or enlightening, caught up in pedestrian tomfoolery as it seeks to shame the world.