The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie
Okay, settle in, grab a lukewarm soda that’s been sitting out too long, and let’s rewind the tape on a particularly… unique artifact from the hallowed shelves of the video store: 1989’s The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie. If you were browsing the Troma section back in the day – and let's be honest, who among us didn't occasionally venture into that gloriously sleazy corner? – you probably remember the distinctive lurid green cover art promising more mutant mayhem from Tromaville's favorite hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength. But this entry? Oh boy, it’s a strange beast, even by Troma standards.
### From Hero to Zero (Almost)
This third outing catches up with Toxie, our beloved mop-wielding environmental crusader, after he’s effectively cleaned up Tromaville. Crime is down, pollution is (mostly) gone, and frankly, Toxie is… bored. Even his blind girlfriend Claire (played with infectious energy by Phoebe Legere, who really commits) is getting tired of his moping. What’s a monster-hero to do? Get a real job, apparently. This leads Toxie down the path of corporate corruption as he takes a spokesperson gig for the nefarious Apocalypse Inc., the very company responsible for the toxic waste that created him. It’s a setup ripe for Troma’s signature blend of social satire and slapstick gore, tackling themes of selling out and the corrupting influence of big business.
The premise itself is pure Troma gold, dripping with potential for biting commentary wrapped in layers of latex and Karo syrup blood. But let's get real here, the execution is... well, it’s complicated. This film has one of the most notorious production backstories in the Troma canon. You see, Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, the mad geniuses behind Troma Entertainment, originally shot a massive amount of footage intended for The Toxic Avenger Part II. When the initial cut ran close to four hours, they made the thrifty (or perhaps panicked) decision to cleave it in two, padding out the second half with some newly shot material to create both Part II and Part III. This Frankensteinian origin story permeates every frame of The Last Temptation of Toxie.
### A Tale of Two Toxies (Literally)
Remember how Toxie felt a bit… inconsistent between scenes sometimes? There’s a reason for that! During the protracted shoot that spanned Part II and III, the original actor playing Toxie, John Altamura, was reportedly fired (or walked off, depending on who you ask – Troma legends are often murky). He was replaced by Ron Fazio, who gamely stepped into the lumpy green suit. Because Part III heavily cannibalizes footage shot before the actor swap, you literally have two different guys playing the lead role, sometimes cutting back and forth within the same sequence! Once you know this, you can’t unsee it, adding another layer of charmingly chaotic energy to the viewing experience. It’s a prime example of the low-budget, seat-of-your-pants filmmaking that defined so much of the direct-to-video market we loved.
The action, such as it is, leans heavily into Troma’s brand of cartoonish violence. Forget the slick choreography of a Cannon Films release; this is about messy head crushes, absurd dismemberments, and gags that push the boundaries of good taste right off a cliff. The practical effects are, as always with Troma, the stars. They’re gooey, they’re cheap, they’re often completely unconvincing, and yet… they possess a tangible, handcrafted quality that’s endlessly endearing. There's a certain perverse joy in seeing stretched latex skin, buckets of stage blood, and prosthetics that look like they were cooked up in a high school chemistry lab after hours. It’s a world away from today’s seamless CGI – you feel the squish, even through a fuzzy CRT screen.
### Satire Drowned in Slime?
While the film attempts satire, aiming barbs at corporate greed, yuppie culture, and even the movie business itself (Apocalypse Inc. is clearly a stand-in for the major studios Troma felt excluded by), it often gets lost amidst the relentless barrage of gags and recycled footage. The pacing lurches awkwardly, a direct result of its piecemeal construction. Scenes sometimes feel disconnected, and plot threads dangle loosely. It lacks the tighter narrative (relatively speaking) of the original Toxic Avenger (1984) and feels less focused than the globe-trotting absurdity of Part II.
Yet, there’s still fun to be had. Phoebe Legere is a bright spot, bringing a bizarre operatic energy to Claire. The sheer audacity of some of the jokes still lands, even if they're often juvenile. And watching Kaufman and Herz try to wrestle this disparate footage into something resembling a coherent movie is its own kind of entertainment. It’s like watching a particularly messy, ambitious home movie made by people who just happened to have access to gallons of fake blood and monster costumes. I remember renting this one back-to-back with Part II, feeling slightly confused but ultimately entertained by the sheer weirdness Troma always delivered.
Retro Fun Fact: Apocalypse Inc.'s Chairman is depicted as the Devil himself, complete with horns and a pitchfork – not exactly subtle, but perfectly in line with Troma's sledgehammer approach to satire. This overtly religious angle (hence the "Last Temptation" title) feels somewhat tacked on, likely another consequence of trying to build a new narrative around existing footage.
### Final Reel
The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie is undeniably the runt of the original Toxie litter. Born from necessity and stitched together from the leftovers of its predecessor, it’s a chaotic, uneven, and often nonsensical ride. Its production history is arguably more fascinating than the film itself. However, for die-hard Troma fans or those who appreciate the weirdest corners of the VHS era, it offers glimpses of the low-budget ingenuity, gross-out humor, and surprisingly pointed (if clumsy) satire that made Troma a cult phenomenon. It’s messy, it’s crude, but like finding a weirdly stained tape at the bottom of a bargain bin, there's a certain nostalgic charm to its flaws.
Rating: 4/10 - The score reflects its deeply flawed nature and reliance on recycled material, saved from complete disaster only by Troma's unique brand of gonzo energy, some genuinely funny moments (if you have the stomach), and its fascinatingly troubled production.
Final Thought: It may be the cinematic equivalent of reheated leftovers found in the back of the fridge, but sometimes even day-old toxic sludge has a certain unforgettable flavour, especially when viewed through the static hiss of a well-loved VHS tape.