The Toxic Avenger

Trash cinema treasure trove

Release Date: OUT NOW! 1984 | 18 | 83 minutes | £ 22.99 ( Blu- ray)/£ 14.99 ( DVD) Distributor: 88 Films Directors: Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman Cast: Andree Maranda, Mitch Cohen, Jennifer Babtist

Troma’s titanic triumph traces the trials and tribulations of a teenager turned toxic by a team of thugs who trade hit- and- run crimes for kicks, giggles and Polaroids of crushed corpses.

Dumped into a garbage can of glowing green goo, weedy Melvin is transformed into Toxie, a mutant vigilante with the body of Hulk and the voice of George Clooney.

A trash paradise populated by clown- faced criminals, blind babes and morbidly obese mayors, it’s a fever- dream made flesh- and- gore for B- flick fans.

Extras: This Uncut Nuclear Edition ( reinstating four minutes cut for DVD) comes crammed with collector- charming special features, including a five- minute commentary from Melvin actor Mark Torgl, the theme tune from toon Toxic Crusaders, two intros and short clips from Troma TV. Only a “15 Years Later” mockumentary disappoints – essentially four minutes of some dude in a Toxie mask.

The biggest prize is the commentary from creator/ Stan Lee of Troma Studios Lloyd Kaufman. Packed with personality – discussing his competition, Kaufman claims, “The studios weren’t playing fair, they were using good scripts and good actors” – it’s easily as entertaining as the film. The Blu- ray ( rated) adds a slightly longer Japanese cut. Sam Ashurst Lloyd Kaufman cameos in James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy; the two both worked on Gunn’s debut, Tromeo & Juliet.