Remember Troma movies?

Remember when you discovered Troma? If you find their films at the right age, you become obsessed and inspired by this grungy little independent film studio. They specialized in making the cheapest films possible as entertainingly as possible. Headed by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, Troma was the much sleazier, shlockier version of Cannon films. They were producers and often duo directors who started with Z-grade screwball comedies in the 1970s originally aimed for NY and NJ grindhouses.


But as sex, gore and action films started trending and the video store market exploded, Troma mutated into its own brand of schizophrenic and unpretentious commercial trash film. They wore their whorish sensibilities til they gained a punk rock cache that made their theater releases quite popular too. Eventually they were ghettoized as Hollywood bought the big theater and video store chains, but they survived by inspiring DIY filmmakers to provide them with content to distribute. Since the 2000s, Troma has been seemingly dying a slow death and very little quality has come out of the company. DIY filmmakers now sidestep admittedly shoddy distributors and backers like Troma and Full Moon Pictures for YouTube and KickStarter. Its not that Troma can't enter the 21st century. The opposite is true: They were so ahead of their times that they are waiting for the rest of the world to accommodate them. But they remain a beacon to current fans of cult movies and the fact that they haven't folded is a very important one.

Being so far out of the mainstream allowed Troma to cultivate its own ideas and not fall victim to ill trends. Unlike Hollywood, women, minorities and gays always had parts in their films, possibly because of the liberal casting on such micro budgets. Troma was still casually sexist, racist and homophobic, but it always came from the Jewish sensibility of everyone being taken down a peg an laughed at equally. White men are certainly the most criticized and vilified, not because of power but abuse of it. Troma was decades ahead of 2017's cultural politics minus the obnoxious political correctness dogma. I grew up seeing trans characters and foreigners and obese people and elderly people on my TV screen, so I never felt any need to see them as freaks nor treat them as delicate infants to be patronized and romanticized. I owe that to Troma totally.

They occupy a big spot on the mantle of American indie filmmaking for their messages, their ability to survive risks and keep producing in some capacity. Along with Roger Corman and Cannon, Troma created an influential brand and churned out a lot of undervalued popcorn entertainment that is probably better viewed today than it was when released. Troma's stayed true to their slogan: "Movies of the future".

Here are the films that best represent the company and their aesthetic:

1. The Toxic Avenger: The godfather of all gore-comedy-action hybrids. Incredibly influential and supremely watchable. Famous for lowbrow slapstick and cheesy 80s flair, its full of biting satire and clever no-budget filmmaking.
2. Class of Nuke 'Em High: The spiritual sequel that ups all of the positive qualities of TA. The plot isn't as charming and its not as universally appealing, but it is still a fun time capsule and a tribute to arrested development.
3. Troma's War: The excess and pretentiousness of the 80s catches up to Troma as they try to make a Swarzeneggar-style bonanza of special effects and weirdness. A special treat for fans of the previous films and a kind of peak for the company.
4. Surf Nazis Must Die: Troma bought lots of films from struggling nobodies and this is probably the most worthy of note. Unintentionally hilarious and intentionally absurd, this is one of the biggest guilty pleasures for me. Aren't the titles of these movies amazing?
5. Sgt Kabukiman NYPD: Troma tries to make a PG-13 cash-in on 1989's Batman. Its a real mixed bag but the charm and inventiveness is there, though waning.
6. Bloodsucking Freaks: One of the earliest acquisitions, this is an uncharacteristically disturbing gore film in the vein of HG Lewis but taken to much seedier and exploitative realms. One of the first "extreme horror" films. For gorehounds only.
7. Superstarlet AD: A great gem from later Troma. Its a B&W spoof of 50s scifi and "nudie cutie" films. Haunting and alluring Late night time-wasters like this are why Troma have a devoted cult audience.
8. Redneck Zombies: Shot on VHS, this is one of the shabbiest films you will ever watch, but its has awesome special effects and fun gags supplied by a smalltown troupe of 80s friends turned DIY filmmakers. The director/star/writer would go on to contribute to a lot of Troma's best effects.
9. The Last Horror Film: Another acquisition that defies expectation. The most personal film from cult movie legend Joe Spinell is a gorgeous and dreamy horror satire that re-teams Spinell with Caroline Munro, his co-star in the legendary "Maniac".
10. Nightmare Weekend: A totally surreal slasher about puppets and mad scientists. So amateurish but still as entertaining as can be.
11. Tromeo & Juliet: Written by the future director/writer of Guardians of the Galaxy, this was Troma's exploitation of Gen X indie movies. While Troma was losing money and their gimmicks were getting more crude, this has a more personal and clever edge than the usual Troma film.
12. Terror Firmer: This is where Troma started becoming a bit too self-referential and the humor too crass, but its a celebration of the studio's uncompromising independence and ingenuity as the film is full of decent amateur performances, fx, gags and observations.
13. Citizen Toxie: I have a soft spot for this one. Its a love letter to the Troma purists and might hook unfamiliars. Its pure anarchy, juvenalia, attitude and proverbial rabbits being pulled out of hats that you wouldn't expect from such a small movie. Its a respectable stab at Hollywood-level spectacle without any of the resources.
14. The Taint: Made very recently, this is one of the funniest and most charming films Troma has put out in ages. Some fans side with the more aggressive and ambitious "Father's Day", but The Taint has a grassroots humor and appreciation for escapism that created and sustained the company.

Some cool footnotes: Troma is credited in the immortal arthouse masterpiece "My Dinner With Andre" and Lloyd Kaufman served as location manager for the famous restaurant set. Also, Troma would've produced John Waters' sequel to his game-changing "Pink Flamingos" called "Flamingos Forever". Troma also gave Trey Parker his start, releasing his indie film "Cannibal: The Musical" long before South Park hit.