Toxic waste, crime-fighting, and a whole lot of grotesque charm… The Toxic Avenger is back, and Peter Dinklage is stepping into the sludge-covered shoes of Winston Gooze, the reluctant hero turned radioactive vigilante. New images released by Entertainment Weekly finally provide a complete look at Dinklage’s transformation into the disfigured yet oddly endearing antihero that pays homage to the cult classic while bringing its own modern spin to the table.
The full-body shot of Dinklage in costume reveals a heavily mutated figure with a warped, green-skinned appearance, bulging veins, and hollow black eye sockets. His ragged clothing barely clings to his form, a reminder of the human he once was before a workplace mishap sent him tumbling into a vat of toxic waste. Another image captures him gripping his signature mop, dripping with industrial sludge, a nod to the original 1984 film where the cleaning implement became his weapon of choice.
The Toxic Avenger director Macon Blair has made it clear that the goal was to stay true to the spirit of Troma’s cult classic. “The goal was to try to stay true to the vibe of Lloyd [Kaufman’s] original Jennifer Aspinall/Mitch Cohen creature, with some influence from the Toxic Crusaders cartoon’s look, while also trying to do something new and weird and lovable with Toxie’s design,” he said. “I love what Millennium FX did with it — part human, part mutant, all heart.”
The feature addresses a question that arose for many viewers: whether Dinklage portrayed Toxie throughout the film, and the answer is that Luisa Guerreiro takes on the role of Toxie following the character’s transformation. Before this, the film centers on Winston, a janitor struggling to cope after his wife’s death, leaving him to care for his stepson, played by Jacob Tremblay. Winston receives a terminal diagnosis but is denied coverage by his company, headed by Kevin Bacon’s Bigwig. Winston meets his demise, is subsequently disposed of in toxic waste, and Toxie’s grotesque yet oddly inspiring crusade against corruption and crime unfolds as expected. The Toxic Avenger also stars Elijah Wood as Fritz Garbinger.
Fans of the original can expect plenty of blood, guts, and dark humour, while newcomers will get a crash course in why this cult classic has endured for decades. With Dinklage leading the charge, this revival is set to be a wild ride through the filth and fury of Tromaville.
The Toxic Avenger opens in cinemas on 29 August.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, and anime — you name it. When she’s not reading or being a dedicated cinephile, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of Caleb from Love and Deepspace.
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