Summary

  • The upcoming remake of The Toxic Avenger is just as wild as the 1984 original, according to first reactions at the 2023 Fantastic Fest.
  • Peter Dinklage gives a standout performance as Winston Gooze aka The Toxic Avenger, with the ensemble cast perfectly cast.
  • The film is described as gory, funny, crazy, and unconventional, combining over-the-top energy and tone with lots of gore and a surprising amount of heart.

The upcoming remake of The Toxic Avenger has already debuted at the 2023 Fantastic Fest, and the first reactions tease a film just as wild as the 1984 original. Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage continues to collect great projects since the end of the HBO series and, while preparing to be part of the universe of The Hunger Games as dean Casca Highbottom in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, he wows the world with his version of Winston Gooze aka The Toxic Avenger.

Directed and written by Macon Blair, the film tells the story of an average, weak man who works as a janitor at a gym. After being diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decides to rob his workplace to pay for his treatment, but ends up falling into a pit of toxic waste, deforming him and turning him into a monster ready to take revenge on those who hurt him in the past.

The Toxic Avenger cast also includes Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Kevin Bacon, Sarah Niles, Julia Davis, Julian Kostov, Elijah Wood, David Yow, Macon Blair, Jane Levy, and Jonny Coyne. After being shown at the 2023 Fantastic Fest, the first reactions at the film are out, and fans should definitely be excited.

Related: The Toxic Avenger Reboot: Plot, Cast, and Everything Else We Know

The Toxic Avenger Is a Gory, Funny & Crazy Remake

Peter Dinklage The Toxic Avenger
Legendary Pictures/Troma Entertainment

Perri Nemiroff from Collider celebrates Blair's work and Dinklage's performance:

Jacob Hall from SlashFilm found it "extremely funny" saying:

Phil Nobile Jr. from Fangoria simply loved it:

Germain Lussier from Gizmodo teases a lot of gore:

Ernesto Valenzuela from Discussing Film calls it unconventional:

Matt Donato says people will love it and hate it:

Written and directed by Macon Blair, The Toxic Avenger premiered as the opening film of Fantastic Fest on September 21, 2023. The film does not yet have a wide release date.