OPEN THE CASE FILE ↗Theatrical poster / Original source ↗
The Toxic Avenger poster © Troma Entertainment, Inc.
The Toxic Avenger
A bullied janitor becomes Tromaville’s most unlikely hero.
- DIRECTED BY
- Lloyd Kaufman
Michael Herz - STARRING
- Andree Maranda, Mitchell Cohen, Pat Ryan Jr., Jennifer Baptist
- GENRE
- Horror / Comedy / Superhero
- RUNNING TIME
- 87 minutes Edition notes ↓
THE STORY
A cruel prank sends a health-club janitor into toxic waste. Tromaville gets an unlikely protector, and its bullies get a very unpleasant surprise.
The film follows Melvin, a bullied health-club janitor who becomes Tromaville’s mutant protector after falling into hazardous waste. Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz share the directing credit; Kaufman is credited as Samuel Weil in the AFI record. The original film led to a series of sequels.
INSIDE THE FILM
ONE TRANSFORMATION. TWO PERFORMERS.
Mark Torgl plays Melvin before the accident; Mitchell Cohen plays the transformed Toxic Avenger. Andree Maranda plays Sara. The official archive separates those roles, making the human performances behind the creature easy to discover.
READ THE SOURCE ↗THE HANDS BEHIND THE MONSTER
The official crew credits name Jennifer Aspinall for special-effects makeup, Richard W. Haines as editor and James London as director of photography. The production photographs below show the physical craft and on-location work behind the finished film.
READ THE SOURCE ↗THE RELEASE HAS A HISTORY
AFI records filming in New Jersey in 1983 and a US theatrical opening in April 1986. Troma dates the film to 1984. Those dates describe different points in the film’s life, rather than a single universal release date.
READ THE SOURCE ↗THE FILM IN PICTURES
Explore the finished film and the work behind it. Film stills and production photographs are reproduced from the official Toxic Avenger archive. Select an image to enlarge it.
ROLL THE TRAILER.
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THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT
CAST
- Mark Torgl
- Melvin
- Mitchell Cohen
- The Toxic Avenger
- Andree Maranda
- Sara
- Pat Ryan Jr.
- Mayor Belgoody
- Jennifer Baptist
- Wanda
- Robert Prichard
- Slug
- Cindy Manion
- Julie
- Gary Schneider
- Bozo
CREW
- Michael Herz & Lloyd Kaufman
- Directors / producers
- Joe Ritter
- Screenplay
- Lloyd Kaufman
- Story
- Richard W. Haines
- Editor
- James London
- Director of photography
- Jennifer Aspinall
- Special-effects makeup
Selected credits. Full source records are linked below.
RELEASE & EDITION NOTES
The year (1984) and 87-minute runtime follow Troma’s film catalogue. Troma NOW’s streaming edition runs approximately 82 minutes. AFI records the US theatrical opening on 4 April 1986 and lists a 90-minute version; these describe different release records and editions.
AFI lists Michael Herz and Samuel Weil as directors. Samuel Weil is Lloyd Kaufman’s directing pseudonym.
EXPLORE THE REFERENCES
WATCH IT.
OWN IT.
PASS IT ON.
Explore Troma’s official viewing service and the film’s physical-media artwork. Available editions and viewing access may vary by country.
WATCH ON TROMA NOW ↗EXPLORE THE OFFICIAL RELEASE ↗KEEP EXPLORING TROMA
OPEN THE CASE FILE ↗Class of Nuke ’Em High
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Directed by Richard W. Haines & Lloyd Kaufman
Film poster / Troma Direct ↗
OPEN THE CASE FILE ↗Tromeo and Juliet
Lloyd Kaufman’s 1996 take on Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers.
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman
Film poster / Troma Direct ↗
OPEN THE CASE FILE ↗Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
Rick Gianasi plays detective Harry Griswold in Troma’s 1990 superhero comedy.
Directed by Lloyd Kaufman & Michael Herz
Film poster / Troma Direct ↗