The Toxic Avenger Review: So, here’s a fun bit of timing. When I dropped my Caught Stealing review, someone left a comment saying: “Caught Stealing and The Toxic Avenger feel like the best double feature this weekend. Hope you review that one next.”
Well, guess what? That’s exactly what I did. Thursday turned into a double feature: Caught Stealing first, and then The Toxic Avenger (2025). So let’s talk about the second half of that day – because wow, this movie is a ride.
My Rating: ( 3.0/5 )
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | The Toxic Avenger |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Director | Macon Blair |
| Genre | Action, Comedy, Horror |
| Language | English |
| Main Cast | Peter Dinklage (Winston / voice of Toxic Avenger), Louisa Garro (Toxic Avenger body), Kevin Bacon (villain), Elijah Wood |
| Runtime | 1h 40m |
The Setup – A Classic Tale with a Toxic Twist
This remake of The Toxic Avenger is written and directed by Macon Blair, who clearly has a deep love for the original cult classic. Here, Peter Dinklage plays Winston, a struggling stepdad who’s stuck working as a janitor at a shady pharmaceutical company. He’s a guy life has chewed up and spit out.
Of course, things spiral when Winston is murdered and his body gets dumped into a vat of toxic sludge. That’s when he’s reborn as the Toxic Avenger.
What really hooked me wasn’t just the transformation sequence (which is as gross and gory as you’d want), but how much the film pulls you into its world before Winston even mutates. Usually in movies like this, the “origin” feels like a speed bump before the real show begins. But here, the setup works. I was genuinely invested in Winston’s sad, grimy world long before the toxic goo bubbled over.
A Love Letter to ’80s Cinema
This is where the movie shines. It’s not nostalgia in the lazy, checklist way we often see now – it’s nostalgia in tone and vibe. It feels cinematic, like something that crawled straight out of the weird, neon-soaked alleyways of ’80s genre films.
The world here could sit right next to Robocop. You’ve got evil corporations pulling the strings, criminals who look like they raided the Mad Max costume department, and a general sense of chaos that modern films rarely touch. That specific “they don’t make them like this anymore” energy? Yeah, they actually did. It’s called The Toxic Avenger (2025).
Cast and Characters – A Mix of Serious Talent and Grade-B Charm
The casting is wild.
- Peter Dinklage gives Winston the humanity he desperately needs. Once he becomes Toxic Avenger, his body is played by actress Louisa Garro, while Dinklage still provides the voice. Surprisingly, it works.
- Kevin Bacon is here, chewing scenery as the slick corporate villain. Honestly, I love that Bacon keeps taking roles like this, he always seems to be having the time of his life being awful.
- Elijah Wood also pops up, and he’s as committed as ever to making weird character choices.
Despite the B-movie flavor, these performances give the film just enough weight to keep you locked in.
Gore, Humor, and Leaning Into the Madness
Once the mutation happens, the film doesn’t hesitate. It leans hard into gore, violence, and pitch-black humor. Some jokes land, some don’t, but that’s par for the course in a film like this.
And here’s the thing, the trailer didn’t lie. What you saw is exactly what you get: a bloody, mutant revenge flick that knows its lane and stays there proudly. No Oscar-bait ambitions, no overreaching. Just splatter, satire, and sludge.
It reminded me of something Tyrion Lannister once said (fitting, since Dinklage is the lead): “Never forget what you are. Wear it like armor.” That’s exactly what this movie does. It owns its weirdness, and that’s why it works.
Also Read: Caught Stealing Review: I Watched Aronofsky’s Wild Crime Comedy with Austin Butler
The Toxic Avenger (2025): The Good and the Bad
| What Worked (Good) | What Didn’t (Bad) |
|---|---|
| Captures that authentic ’80s cult-movie vibe | Some jokes fall flat |
| Peter Dinklage grounds the character emotionally | Low budget shows in spots |
| Practical effects and gore hit the right notes | Not for anyone outside the niche audience |
| Kevin Bacon is a blast as the villain | Low-budget shows in spots |
| Honest to its trailer, what you see is what you get | Might feel too chaotic or campy for some viewers |
Final Verdict
The Toxic Avenger (2025) isn’t trying to win over everyone. It knows its audience, and if you’re in that group, you’re going to have a hell of a time. It’s gory, violent, weirdly funny, and surprisingly faithful in spirit to the cult classic it’s remaking.
If you want prestige drama, look elsewhere. But if the trailer made you grin and you’ve got a soft spot for VHS-era trash-gold cinema, this is absolutely worth your ticket, or better yet, your future VHS shelf.
FAQs
1. Do I need to watch the original Toxic Avenger before seeing this remake?
Not at all. This remake stands on its own. But if you’ve seen the original, you’ll definitely pick up on the winks and nods.
2. Is The Toxic Avenger (2025) really that gory?
Yes. This is very much a splatter film. Expect blood, guts, and over-the-top kills. If that’s not your thing, steer clear.
3. What makes this remake different from the original?
The tone and gore are faithful, but the characters (including Winston, played by Peter Dinklage) are given more emotional depth. It’s less chaotic than the original but still firmly a B-movie at heart.
4. Is it worth watching in theaters?
If you love cult horror and splatter films, yes. The crowd reactions will make it even better. If you’re unsure, it might be a solid streaming night watch instead.
5. Who should watch this movie?
Fans of Robocop, Mad Max, or cult horror classics. Basically, if you like your cinema loud, bloody, and unashamedly weird, this is for you.
That’s my take on The Toxic Avenger (2025). What about you? Did you catch it yet? And while we’re at it, what’s your favorite cult classic of all time? Drop it in the comments, I’d love to hear what belongs on everyone’s “toxic” double-feature list.
