Michael Herz

The Toxic Avenger

Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 08/16/2005

The most widely known of Troma Films' stable of low-budget exploitation, The Toxic Avenger is an exuberantly crude poke at superheroes and monster movies, delivered with a healthy dose of cheap gags, splattery special effects, and T&A. It's also a genuinely funny film, and its no-holds-barred attitude has a grubby charm that eludes most gross-out comedies. The Toxic Avenger opens with an absurdly vicious crew preying upon Melvin, a nebbishy janitor. Their pranks land him in a vat of chemical waste, which transforms him into a lumpy monster that deals out gruesome revenge. Directors (and Troma company heads) Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz aim low in detailing "Toxie's" vengeance spree, and the subsequent carnage should please gorehounds. But they're also savvy enough recognize the film's limitations, and wisely camp things with plenty of slapstick. The result is a frantic and funny mess that should amuse even the most dour cult movie fan. --Paul Gaita

The Toxic Avenger (21st Anniversary Edition)

The most widely known of Troma Films' stable of low-budget exploitation, The Toxic Avenger is an exuberantly crude poke at superheroes and monster movies, delivered with a healthy dose of cheap gags, splattery special effects, and T&A. It's also a genuinely funny film, and its no-holds-barred attitude has a grubby charm that eludes most gross-out comedies. The Toxic Avenger opens with an absurdly vicious crew preying upon Melvin, a nebbishy janitor. Their pranks land him in a vat of chemical waste, which transforms him into a lumpy monster that deals out gruesome revenge. Directors (and Troma company heads) Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz aim low in detailing "Toxie's" vengeance spree, and the subsequent carnage should please gorehounds. But they're also savvy enough recognize the film's limitations, and wisely camp things with plenty of slapstick. The result is a frantic and funny mess that should amuse even the most dour cult movie fan. --Paul Gaita

Melvin is the resident geek at the local health club. One day slug & bozo (some resident jocks) chase melvin around the club & melvin ends up plunging out of the window into a tub of toxic waste. Melvin is transformed into the toxic avenger & he is a geek no more! toxie fights crime & gets revenge on his enemes. Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 08/16/2005 Starring: Mitch Cohen Run time: 87 minutes

Class of Nuke'Em High

Readin', writin' and radiation fill the schooldays of Tromaville High in this riotous sci-fi hyper-action big budget ambitious comedy. When the honor society turns on to some nuclear reefer, they transform into mutated punkers who just cannot seem to play well with other students! After a highly successful theatrical release, and two decades of cult fanaticism, Class of Nuke `Em high makes it's premiere on DVD in a fully uncut and uncensored presentation, featuring an audio-commentary from co-director Lloyd Kaufman! Where crunching action, gooey gore, beautiful babes and subhumanoid mutations make the grade, Class of Nuke `Em High passes with flying, glowing colors! Features a special appearance by the Smithereens!

The Toxic Avenger, Part II

Although "clever" isn't the first word that leaps to mind when describing Troma Films' Toxic Avenger series, the sequel to their 1985 hit has enough laugh-out-loud gags (amidst a barrage of slapstick and bodily function jokes) that should tickle the funny bones of veteran and novice Troma viewers alike. The Toxic Avenger, Part II finds the chemically altered crime fighter depressed about the lack of evil in his hometown of Tromaville. That situation is quickly reversed by the appearance of the dastardly Apocalypse, Inc., which sends Toxie to Japan after his long-lost father while they plan to transform Tromaville into a toxic waste dump. Longtime Troma fans might feel let down by the subdued levels of gore and gross-out humor found in Part II (which is possibly due to the participation of television production company Lorimar Films). But the zest with which director/Troma co-chieftain Lloyd Kaufman delivers his lowbrow laughs should allay any cult fan's concerns. --Paul Gaita

Sgt. Kabukiman, N.Y.P.D.

Produced during the xenophobic late-80's by the creators of the classic Toxic Avenger, Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD introduced a second classic superhero to the Tromaverse! Harry Griswold, a hapless NYC cop, undergoes a fantastic physical transformation to become the legendary Japanese hero, Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD! Armed with fatal sushi, heatseeking chopsticks and pyro projectile parasols, Sgt Kabukiman NYPD must learn how to use his Kabuki powers to save the Big Apple (and the Earth) from the evil one, all while filleting an array of baddies, from brutal pimps to Central Park rapists! Timely and satirical! Action packed and hilarious, with eye-popping special effects and hair raising fight sequences! This exclusive unrated edition of Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD comes fully stocked with heretofore unseen extras, such as the unreleased Sgt. Kabukiman cartoon and a director's commentary by director Lloyd Kaufman!

Troma's War

The Toxic Avenger Part III - The Last Temptation Of Toxie (Unrated)

Troma Films' Toxic Avenger series shows its lack of legs with the second sequel to its 1985 hit. Despite a typically absurd premise, which has Toxie battling Satan to save his hometown of Tromaville, the film lacks the go-for-broke gags and gore that made the first two films such guilty pleasures. Part of the reason for this may be that the movie was culled from footage shot for The Toxic Avenger, Part II; Troma heads Lloyd Kaufman (who also helmed the feature) and Michael Herz simply stitched together Part III from the loose ends. While haphazard construction is part of the charm of Troma's films, the relatively high quality of the Toxic Avenger series raised the bar, and the slapdash nature of Part III is more of a disappointment than a campy source of humor. True to their nature, Troma disregarded the drubbing this film received and completed a fourth entry, Citizen Toxie. --Paul Gaita

The New York Post raves, proclaiming Toxic Avenger III to be "Troma's `Intolerance,' with bigger sets and higher aspirations." The third 35mm theatrical hit in director Lloyd Kaufman's wildly successful Toxic Avenger series finds our hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength battling his most formidable foe to date- the Devil himself! He's cleaned up Tromaville. He's conquered Tokyo. The Toxic Avenger series has set a new standard for independent action/comedies, transcending the limitations of low-budget filmmaking to become a bona fide worldwide phenomenon! The Toxic Avenger Part III continues this tradition in high style with eye-popping, gut-wrenching special effects, explosive action, and the unmistakably Tromatic sense of humor.

Stuck on You!

Waitress!

The First Turn-On