"Blair took Troma's splatterpunk superhero movie and imbued it with an exploration of how unfair the healthcare industry can be; instead of the original's bullied loner, this movie's hero is Winston Gooze, a janitor trying to support his stepson. But when he's diagnosed with a brain issue that requires treatment not covered by his healthcare plan, he seeks revenge by becoming The Toxic Avenger. That revenge isn't just fictional: the studio behind the movie is helping real-life victims."
"Ahead of The Toxic Avenger's August release, distributor Cineverse came up with a creative way to spread the word by taking the last of its marketing budget and donating it to Undue Medical Debt, a non-profit that helps pay outstanding medical bills. The initial donation helped wipe out $5 million in medical debt, and the studio pledged to contribute more for every million the movie made at the box office."
Macon Blair's remake reframes Troma's splatterpunk superhero as Winston Gooze, a janitor and stepfather who seeks care for a diagnosed brain condition not covered by his insurance. Facing unaffordable treatment, Gooze pursues revenge by transforming into The Toxic Avenger, merging gory practical effects with social commentary about a broken healthcare system. Distributor Cineverse redirected its remaining marketing budget to Undue Medical Debt, initially erasing $5 million of bills and pledging more based on box-office performance. Cineverse and fan contributions ultimately led to $15 million in forgiven debt, with Undue buying debt cheaply so small donations erase large obligations.
Read at Inverse
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