“The Toxic Avenger” follows Winston Gooze, a janitor transformed into a new kind of hero after being exposed to a catastrophic toxic accident.

Building a Chaotic World

The film opens with a lot of moving parts – introducing Gooze, showing the relationship with his son, laying out a corrupt company and boss and following a pair of anarchists plotting against it. This world-building is messy at times but also compelling, giving the setup weight even before the chaos begins.

By the 30-minute mark, these threads collide as the central plot kicks in. Gooze’s desperation and motives are clear, which makes his transformation into Toxie all the more engaging.

Once Toxie is born, the gore-fest begins almost instantly. Limbs are torn from bodies and carnage fills the streets in a wild, fast-paced rampage. This frantic energy never lets up for the rest of the runtime.

As the varying paths converge, the stakes rise, giving weight to all the blood and mayhem. You care about where these characters end up, even as limbs are ripped loose.

Still, “The Toxic Avenger” isn’t always coherent. With so many characters and ideas, several are left underused or sidelined for long stretches of the 102-minute runtime.

Over-the-Top Gore and Humor

The gore is, of course, the main attraction. The film thrives on outrageous violence, making its comedic tone even sharper.

Toxie himself looks impressive thanks to a full-body suit, which avoids being distracting. Not all the effects work as well, though. CGI often takes over the gore, and while most of it is effective, there are moments when the visuals look artificial.

If you’re on the same wavelength as “The Toxic Avenger,” the humor lands. The film sprinkles in constant jokes and never takes itself too seriously, leaning into its absurdity. Many gags earn big laughs, though a few fall flat.

Performances and Legacy

Peter Dinklage (Winston Gooze) captures the titular character’s heart and charm, grounding such a bizarre role with real emotion.

Taylour Paige (J. J. Doherty), Kevin Bacon (Bob Garbinger), Jacob Tremblay (Wade) and Elijah Wood (Fritz Garbinger) all shine as well.

Paige surprisingly carries much of the emotional weight, playing witty, sharp and charismatic opposite Dinklage. Bacon leans into slapstick alongside Wood, while Tremblay’s bond with Dinklage adds depth to the father-son dynamic.

As a remake, comparisons are inevitable. Director Macon Blair adds style to this mainstream update, but the tone isn’t always consistent. The film struggles to balance homage with reinvention, sometimes losing its own identity. Still, after years of delays, it’s a victory just to finally see it on screen.

Amidst all the blood and chaos, “The Toxic Avenger” delivers a story that’s surprisingly compelling. It’s messy – literally and figuratively – but still manages to be an entertaining ride.

Rating: 3 out of 5