The Toxic Avenger (1984)

Directors: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman

Starring: Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Babtist

Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.

I know this atrocious film has a big cult following, but by golly, this was bad! I’m not sure whether this is a very badly made film, or intentionally made to be bad, because I mean they are shamelessly bad! A Part of me would like to believe this was done on purpose. From the acting to the script and exaggerated sound effects, this is one of the most annoyingly bad B-movies I have ever seen. It’s not even a good bad movie. It’s just bad.

Ok, I’ve had my rant! What is this silly horror comedy about? Well, it is about a nerdy guy named Melvin, who is the mop boy at a gym. A Bunch of hunks always pick on him. When he flees from a prank and jumps through a second-story window, he lands in a barrel containing toxic waste, and is transformed into a hideous monster.

Now, he fights bad guys and rids the city’s streets of the criminals. He becomes a local hero, and finds love in Sara, a blind woman. While this might not sound like a bad premise for a movie, it is just cringe-worthy bad! I should probably embrace the film for what it is – and what they have achieved – but I honestly found it almost unwatchable. At least the practical effects were not bad. Quite good, actually, and a few nice action sequences – which is as far as my compliments towards this film goes…

Would I watch it again? Once was enough torture!