Ron Fazio Movies
Although it took eight years for cult director Frank Henenlotter to revisit the twisted world of Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and his basket-bound, mutant former Siamese twin Belial, this sequel picks up the plot mere moments after the original Basket Case ended, finding the psychically-linked brothers mangled but very much alive after the rather aggressive tiff that pitched them out a Bowery flophouse window. They manage to elude the authorities, escape the hospital (to avoid having to explain the dozen-or-so murders committed by gnarled, lumpy Belial), and eventually find sanctuary at the palatial home of Granny Ruth (jazz songbird Annie Ross), an eccentric activist who rallies the cause of "Unique Individuals" like Belial who have been ostracized by society for their horrific appearance and behavior. (Unique, indeed... Ruth's tenants run the gamut from a boy with 18-inch teeth to a woman who looks like a
hammerhead shark in a summer frock.) Although the pair soon grow quite accustomed to their new home, they are eventually forced to confront their murderous past, thanks to a tabloid reporter and a cynical cop, both of whom come to regret sticking their noses into places where such appendages tend to get bitten off. Henenlotter deserves credit for exploring new terrain in this interesting follow-up, but his reliance on outrageous makeup effects diminishes the effectiveness of the "Monsters Are People Too" theme -- it's hard to work up much empathy toward Ruth's charges, depicted as mute automatons by actors wearing 70 pounds of foam latex on their heads. Not that Henenlotter doesn't return to grotesque form now and then -- particularly for the most disgusting love scene on record and the effective shock ending, which paves the way for yet another sequel. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
hammerhead shark in a summer frock.) Although the pair soon grow quite accustomed to their new home, they are eventually forced to confront their murderous past, thanks to a tabloid reporter and a cynical cop, both of whom come to regret sticking their noses into places where such appendages tend to get bitten off. Henenlotter deserves credit for exploring new terrain in this interesting follow-up, but his reliance on outrageous makeup effects diminishes the effectiveness of the "Monsters Are People Too" theme -- it's hard to work up much empathy toward Ruth's charges, depicted as mute automatons by actors wearing 70 pounds of foam latex on their heads. Not that Henenlotter doesn't return to grotesque form now and then -- particularly for the most disgusting love scene on record and the effective shock ending, which paves the way for yet another sequel. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kevin Van Hentenryck, Annie Ross, (more)
Ron Fazio returns as The Toxic Avenger, "the first hideously deformed monster hero of superhuman size and strength ever to come from New Jersey," in Troma's mercenary sequel to its hit film The Toxic Avenger. Since Toxie cleaned up Tromaville, New Jersey in the first film, he now has no one to fight. He works at the Tromaville Center for The Blind and has a girlfriend named Claire (Phoebe Legere). But the peace in Tromaville is shattered when an evil chemical company, Apocalypse Inc., and its dastardly chairman (Rick Collins), set their sights on Tromaville. In order to take over Tromaville, the Toxic Avenger must be eliminated. By intense study, Apocalypse's second-in-command, Maifaire (Lisa Gaye), discovers that Toxie's desire to vanquish villains is caused by particles manufactured in his body called "tromatons." Apocalypse Inc. bribes Toxie's psychiatrist to suggest that Toxie form a relationship with his father in order to get Toxie out of the country. His father happens to be in Japan and Toxie makes the trip to find him. While out of sight of his hometown, Apocalypse Inc. takes over Tromaville. Meanwhile, in Japan, Toxie finally finds his father but it turns out that his father is an arch-villain who must be killed. "Anti-tromatons" employed in the battle with his father render him weak and wounded, but a team of sumo wrestlers nurse him back to health and Toxie travels back to New Jersey for a confrontation with Apocalypse Inc. in Tromaville. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ron Fazio, John Altamura, (more)
- 1989
- Add The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie to QueueAdd The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie to top of Queue
Upon temptation from Satan himself, Melvin Junko (aka the Toxic Avenger) has visions of yuppiedom dancing in his head when he begins working for an evil Japanese conglomerate which plans to destroy the world (including Melvin's hometown) with toxic waste. When he realizes what he is doing, he becomes the mutant superhero and begins, again, his heroic crime fighting. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ron Fazio, John Altamura, (more)
