Troma boss Lloyd Kaufman has been out in drive speaking up Macon Blair’s The Poisonous Avenger, a spirited reimagining of the studio’s 1984 cult basic set to irradiate an entire new era when it hits theaters this month. However when io9 received an opportunity to speak to Kaufman on the latest San Diego Comedian-Con, we needed to ask: after watching Blair’s movie, which different movie within the huge Troma archives ought to a newly minted fan flip to subsequent? “The fourth Poisonous Avenger film, Citizen Toxie,” Kaufman stated with out hesitation. “It offers with abortion, it offers with faculty shootings, [the environment]—it offers with every thing that an American will be happy with proper now. It was made in 2000, it’s 25 years outdated, [and] all these issues are nonetheless worse than ever.” A couple of minutes later, he doubled down on Citizen Toxie, saying that after Blair’s new movie, “It’s the very best one. I like that one the very best.”
Kaufman directed and co-wrote the movie—full title, Citizen Toxie: The Poisonous Avenger IV—which begins with a suspiciously familiar-sounding narrator (Kaufman pal Stan Lee) recapping the unique movie, apologizing for the 2 “rotten” films that got here after, and relaying a agency assurance, backed up by on-screen textual content, that “That is the Actual Sequel.” With that taken care of, we plunge proper into an onslaught of equal-opportunity offensiveness. If one thing makes you recoil, retch, or each, simply cling tight as a result of one thing rather more repulsive and terrible is about to occur 30 seconds later. Troma’s complete method is to focus on the lowest-hanging fruit attainable, all whereas making enjoyable of everybody and every thing and taking a blowtorch to something resembling political correctness. There’s a plot propelling all of the rapid-fire gags knowingly slathered in dangerous style. The movie begins on the “Tromaville Faculty for the Very Particular” on “take a Mexican to lunch day” as a gang of gun-toting grownup infants bursts in and begins slaughtering college students. It’s an excuse for an ungodly array of poop jokes, lurid groping, gratuitous nudity, outrageous gore, exaggerated performances… and extra, all of which continues all through the film. Retaining in thoughts that scary a visceral response is the entire level, you possibly can determine straight away for those who can abdomen the remaining.
© Troma Nonetheless, for those who determine to stay round, you’ll see an truly fairly intelligent setup emerge: when the varsity blows up, Toxie (who’s rushed in to rescue everybody) and two of the “very particular” college students find yourself in a mirror universe. It’s “Amortville” somewhat than “Tromaville,” and if that’s too high-concept, some man you may need heard of named James Gunn stops by to do a Stephen Hawking imitation (his character is called “Flem Hocking”) and spew out a bunch of pseudo-physics explanations. Whereas Toxie’s blundering round a one way or the other worse model of his personal actuality, “Noxie”—brief for the Noxious Offender—seems in Tromaville in his place. Chaos ensues, the native Nazis rejoice, and Citizen Toxie makes good on its title by giving Noxie his personal black and white newsreel that unfurls like a much more debauched Citizen Kane. We additionally get amusing character variations in every universe, together with a number of hapless Troma “superheroes.” All of the whereas, the evil Noxie causes as a lot destruction as he can and Toxie frantically tries to make his approach house—a activity that takes a nudge from The Wizard of Oz to perform.
Finally, the 2 face off utilizing mops that sound curiously like Star Wars lightsabers. However it’s possible you’ll be exhausted lengthy earlier than the ending, which contains a Kaufman cameo (after a film full of them; apart from Lee and Gunn, there’s Eli Roth, Motorhead’s Lemmy, porn star Ron Jeremy, Corey Feldman, and possibly extra). And even in case you are vibing with the jokes, Citizen Toxie should still trigger precise offense. For me, the racist dragging scene—which replicates an precise hate crime that viewers in 2000 would certainly have recalled—pushes issues too far, even when on this context the supposed homicide sufferer’s head survives and turns into a charismatic addition to the supporting solid. There’s admittedly not a variety of depth occurring right here, and positively zero nuance. However beneath all of the gallons of bodily fluids, there’s a sure free-spirited chaos that guides Troma’s method. The studio’s not making an attempt to “personal” any delicate viewers or insurgent in opposition to wokeness, ideas which didn’t even exist again in 2000. Above all else, it’s aiming to entertain, taking the grossest route attainable to realize that aim.
And whereas Citizen Toxie is stuffed with disgusting jokes and stereotypes, its misshapen hero is genuinely making an attempt to be man. That’s one thing that carries over into the brand new Toxie Avenger, which updates Troma’s extra, uh, antiquated qualities in the very best methods attainable, leading to a movie that’s extra intelligent than crass (however nonetheless crass when it must be). Each movies additionally share some key takeaways: don’t be an asshole. Rise up for what you imagine in and combat for individuals who can’t. And embrace no matter makes you bizarre and completely different—like being a Troma fan, as an example. Citizen Toxie: The Poisonous Avenger IV is streaming free on Prime Video and can be obtainable on Troma’s personal streamer, Troma Now. The Poisonous Avenger hits theaters August 29. Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and every thing you could find out about the way forward for Physician Who.
