USA 2023
Opening September 25, 2025

Directed by: Macon Blair
Writing credits: Macon Blair, Lloyd Kaufman, Joe Ritter
Principal actors: Peter Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, Jacob Tremblay

Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage) works as a janitor in a company called Body Talk Healthstyle (BTH). He accidentally falls into a toxic waste barrel and turns into a creature, looking like a combination of human and perhaps a frog, always carrying a mop which is magical. He is now the Toxic Avenger or “Toxie,” eventually even wearing a ballet skirt. He wishes to protect his son Wade (Jacob Tremblay), who wants to learn dancing in his New Chem High School. They are up against an opponent: his previous boss, Bob Garbinger (Kevin Bacon), who has a brother Fritz (Elijah Wood). There are plans to destroy BTH. A group of violent young men dressed for Halloween appear as the Shocker Rockers. Eventually Winston/Toxie gets shot. Helpful are a young woman J.J. Doherty (Taylour Paige), as well as Daisy who runs a small shop and Guthrie who lives in the woods.

The original Toxic Avenger came out in 1984, followed by more versions including this, the fifth version which premiered already two years ago at the Fantastic Fest in Austin Texas. It took a while to finally reach the public with its new cast of actors. Lead actor Peter Dinklage is a “dwarf” in that he was born with achondroplasia which features short arms and legs; he has had a successful film career, also appearing, e.g., in Game of Thrones. When Winston Gooze turns into Toxie, the role is performed by actress Luisa Guerreiro who wore 30 pounds of prosthetics and spent a significant amount of time copying Dinklage’s mannerisms and acting choices from his taped performance. This action film is being presented as a horror (splatter), sci-fi “comedy,” for viewers age eighteen and over. There is blood everywhere, often quite practical as people drink blood. Supported by a frequent word “bozo,” i.e. similar to a clown, as well as by excellent music, i.e. about thirty songs, it was filmed in Sofia, Bulgaria.  (Becky T.)