Despite a handful of oddball classics like The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo & Juliet occasionally breaking into the mainstream, Troma films usually exist in a category all of their own. You simply can’t evaluate these movies using the same metrics as other forms of cinema because the goals of a Troma production are quite different […]
Despite a handful of oddball classics like The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo & Juliet occasionally breaking into the mainstream, Troma films usually exist in a category all of their own. You simply can’t evaluate these movies using the same metrics as other forms of cinema because the goals of a Troma production are quite different from the film industry’s usual output. This unique quality is precisely what has kept the company going for so long, as no one else is offering what the Troma Team is making.
And with over half a century of independent production and distribution under their belt, it’s only natural that Troma has quite the expansive catalogue of less popular films that still deserve love from genre fans. With that in mind, we’ve decided to come up with a list celebrating six underrated Troma movies that are still worth revisiting!
For the purposes of this list, we’ll be including examples from both Troma’s original productions and their indie distribution fare. That being said, we’re aware that the studio has a lot more than just six underrated movies out there, so don’t forget to comment below with your own favorites if you think we missed a particularly memorable one.
With that out of the way, onto the list! And don’t miss Troma’s big return to the big screen with Macon Blair’s The Toxic Avenger only in theaters – and wildly UNRATED – on August 29!
Collectively produced by Astron-6 (the same team behind modern classics like The Void and Psycho Goreman), Father’s Day is a gnarly revenge thriller satirizing exploitation flicks from the ’70s. While it was originally envisioned as an absurd short film about a man searching for the serial killer who assaulted and murdered his father, reception to the short was so positive that the team felt like they had no choice but to expand the concept into a feature.
And we’re glad they did, as the end result is one of the best neo-Grindhouse productions out there. In fact, the only reason the film ranks so low on this list is the fact that it’s technically only “underrated” due to it having been lost in distribution hell despite being well received by both critics and audiences back in 2011.
5. Killer Condom (1996)
Most audiences will already know if they like Killer Condom or not based on the title alone. A German comic-book adaptation boasting deadpan humor and a surprising amount of social commentary, Martin Walz’s horror comedy (Kondom des Grauens in the original German) is far from your average Troma feature, but it still contains enough sex and violence to appease both fans of monstrous b-movies and absurdist comic strips.
This deeply unserious film follows an intrepid detective and a gigolo as they investigate a string of murders perpetrated by the titular monster, but what really makes it stand out is the fact that it was co-written by famed comic artist Ralf König. In fact, this was such a high-profile production that even Swiss artist H.R. Giger contributed to the monster’s design!
4. Monster in the Closet (1986)
Despite their reputation for schlock, Troma has launched the careers of many successful filmmakers and actors over the years.1986’s Monster in the Closet is a great example of this, as not only does this suggestive horror comedy feature the talents of veterans like John Carradine and Kevin Peter Hall, but it also boasts early appearances by both the late Paul Walker and The Black-Eyed Peas’ Stacy “Fergie” Ferguson!
Of course, it’s the wacky story and memorable creature design that make Monster in the Closet so memorable, with the thinly veiled gay allegory and over-the-top visual gags making this one of the most entertaining movies on this list if you can get past a few dated jokes and a general lack of budget.
3. Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo (1995)
A passion project originally shot all the way back in 1988 on a meager budget of just $17,500, Tom Chaney’s Frostbiter: Wrath of the Wendigo was ultimately saved by Troma Pictures after an exceptionally long period of post-production. Personally, I’m glad that they did, because this micro-budget creature-feature is way more fun than it has any right to be.
Inspired by Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films, Frostbiter follows the chaos that ensues when a couple of friends accidentally unleash the fearsome Wendigo during a hunting trip in Northern Michigan. And not only does this monster movie boast plenty of hilariously lo-fi practical effects, but it also features Ron Asheton of The Stooges in a minor role!
2. Combat Shock (1986)
Unlike the other films on this list, Buddy Giovinazzo’s Combat Shock is far from a comedic endeavor. It may be deeply absurd, with the script’s depressing hyper-reality often bordering on parody, but Giovinazzo’s unflinching look at life after wartime is so disturbing that the exaggerated moments feel more surreal than funny.
Telling the story of an unemployed Vietnam veteran attempting to survive the urban warzone of 1980s Staten Island, Combat Shock is often remembered as one of the most brutal anti-war films of the ’70s, though viewers often forget that it was made and distributed by the same company that spawned Toxie.
1. Cannibal! the Musical (1993)
Also known as Alferd Packard: The Musical in some territories, Trey Parker’s debut film happens to be my personal favorite entry on this list. Cannibal! is a satirical retelling of the true story of the infamous Colorado Cannibal and the tragic journey that resulted in five deaths, with Parker using history as a jumping off point in order to poke fun at both Westerns and American culture in general.
While the movie had its wide release a year before Parker and frequent collaborator Matt Stone (who co-produced the film and played the character of James Humphrey) became household names due to the success of South Park, Cannibal! features much of the same sharp humor and idiosyncratic storytelling – which is why I believe it’s a must-watch for fans of the show.
Troma returns to the big screen with The Toxic Avenger only in theaters on August 29!
