CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER 4
PLOT-When a school for the mentally handicapped explodes, Toxie is thrown into an alternate reality, allowing his evil doppleganger "Noxie" to wreak havoc in Tromaville.
VIOLENCE-Blood and guts and gore galore. Tons of shootings, stabbings, head-crushings, impalements, amputations, and decapitations.
SEX/NUDITY-Loads of topless women, a few naked men, and some really gross “love” scenes.
WHY I WATCHED IT-While I was never a huge fan of the TOXIC AVENGER series, I have always loved Troma and have been very pleased with its last couple major productions, TROMEO & JULIET and TERROR FIRMER. Word had it that CITIZEN TOXIE was going to top them all, and I was anxiously awaiting what was to be Troma’s grossest epic yet.
THE DOPE-As you could probably guess, CITIZEN TOXIE is the greatest of all in the TOXIC AVENGER series. However, I wouldn’t put it above TERROR FIRMER or TROMEO & JULIET in terms of sheer entertainment value. Sure it’s cartoonishly violent, has numerous cameos from the Troma stable and beyond, and definitely has its share of politically incorrect shocks. But I’d been told by several who’d seen CITIZEN TOXIE that it was even sicker than TERROR FIRMER, which I considered troma’s nastiest flick at the time. I’m not offended by “reetard” jokes, which run throughout the film, or by jokes about the way deaf people speak, so perhaps some of these elements added up in others’ minds to a greater end. TERROR FIRMER is more of a real movie in comparison, as most all of the nastiness served a purpose, and carried with it a message about so-called "art" in film. In comparison, CITIZEN TOXIE is a return to the NUKE 'EM HIGH days of Troma. It has a bizarre and complicated plot, some very funny dialogue, and numerous energetic and insane performances. Debbie Rochon and Julie Strain both have brief but memorable roles, and Heidi Sjursen is completely awesome in the role of Toxie’s blind girlfriend Sarah. All in all, CITIZEN TOXIE is the ultimate troma film, featuring everything they do best. It’s a vomit bag full of yummy treats for the b-movie soul, definitely one to show your pals. Multiple viewings will surely follow.
MEMORABLE SCENES-An old lady is run over by a car, and her head is completely crushed under the wheel. But that’s just the beginning. Her body then starts to spaz out, pissing and shitting uncontrollably. Bravo!
DVD NOTES-Let me get right to the point, Troma has outdone itself with this DVD release. It’s a 2-disc set that I got for under $20 and has tons of stuff on it. Three commentary tracks, a lengthy blooper reel, over 20 deleted scenes, on-set interviews and wackines, makeup fx stuff, footage of the premiere in different cities, script meetings, and more. And best of all, like the TERROR FIRMER disc, a full-length documentary on the making of CITIZEN TOXIE is included (with its own set of deleted scenes). I spent all weekend watching this and still haven’t seen everything. I did, however, run across several “easter eggs”, which I’ll attempt to instruct you on how to find...
DISC 1
In the main menu, choose “Scenes” and press down arrow. “Debbie on her character” appears in yellow. This is a short interview with the supremely talented Debbie Rochon about her character Miss Wiener. All actors take note, Debbie knows her shit. Watch and learn from the master!
In the audio menu, choose “play movie” and press arrow right. The figure on the bathroom door will become adorned with a red bikini. Hit ok to view the full rehearsal tape of Sarah’s lesbian love scene (those who have watched the documentary will note that this is where Heidi Sjursen actually went topless).
In the deleted scenes menu, choose “american tragedy” and press arrow left. A blue circle will appear around the words “deleted scenes”, then hit ok. Menu will re-appear showing “with commentary/turn off” on the left side of the screen. Select “american tragedy” again and press arrow left. This time a blue circle will appear around Toxie’s eye. Hit ok to view a crudely animated short called “The Toxic Poodle”.
DISC 2
In the main menu, choose “script meeting” and press arrow right. You’ll see footage of a Jamaican man visiting the movie set, saying a lot of stuff I didn’t understand.
In the appendix section, choose “wild lines…” and press arrow left. You’ll see footage of corey feldman discussing Sgt. Kabukiman with some Troma crew members.
Also in the appendix section, choose “playboy…” and press arrow right. You’ll see a heavy metal video Lloyd Kaufman directed, which features clips of CITIZEN TOXIE, as well as several lesbians making out.
(March 2003)