Reviving "The Toxic Avenger": A Bloody, Hilarious Ride at Comic-Con

A lively panel for the reboot of the grotesque horror-comedy "The Toxic Avenger" garnered attention at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday. A brainstorming session included Peter Dinklage, who plays the janitor-turned-hero Winston Gooze, Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, Jacob Tremblay, writer-director Macon Blair, and producer Lloyd Kaufman. Their fellow actor Kevin Bacon also took part virtually, expressing regret for his absence and promoting the film with a song, touting it as a "riotous, punk, fun, horrific romp."

Even though some parts of the video were censored due to the family-friendly nature of Comic-Con, including Bacon's choice words, explicit violent scenes from the film's trailer, and some dialogue from the screening, the event brought to fore the filmmakers' genuine aspiration to narrate a heartfelt story along with their appreciation for the original 1984 film.

The original "Toxic Avenger" movie was produced by Troma Entertainment, an independent studio co-founded by Kaufman. Its grotesque visuals and audacious premise garnered a solid cult following, leading to four sequels, an animated series, a video game, and even a musical. After unsuccessful attempts in the 2010s to revive the franchise, Legendary Entertainment acquired the rights, roping in Troma founder Kaufman as a producer. The remake premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2023 but struggled to secure distribution due to its distasteful violence and lowbrow humor. In January, the film was picked up by Cineverse and is slated for release on August 29.

The cast was excited to discuss the film, which was once on the verge of vanishing. Blair's attempt was an homage to the original without closely following its narrative. He wanted to blend graphic violence and the warmth that characterized the original. Expressing appreciation for Blair's work, Kaufman claimed that the new film succeeded where the original Troma films fell short.

The cast gave poignant insights, including Peter Dinklage, who took a trip down memory lane recalling his childhood experiences with the original film. He revealed his admiration for Blair as a director and highlighted the relevance of the film's environmental message. Wood, a known horror movie enthusiast, praised the rebuild for its creativity and its poignant relation between Dinklage and Tremblay's characters, emphasizing its essence.

The panel also revealed that Luisa Guerreiro portrayed most of the transformed Winston, meticulously studying Dinklage's movements to match his performance.

While the panel discussion was majorly earnest, there was also mention of some creatively challenging scenes, including one involving a car engine, which required extensive planning and execution. Finally, the director hinted at minor changes from the 2023 version for the theatre release, cautiously referring to a new visual effects shot featuring a body part that viewers would undoubtedly notice.