Macon Blair’s The toxic avenger it’s not only a wild, gory, exhilarating ride, but it’s also doing good in the real world. THE Peter DinklageThe horror comedy, which arrived in theaters in August after years of waiting, sparked a campaign that wiped out a staggering $15 million in medical debt for thousands of people across the country.
Ahead of the film’s theatrical release, Cineverse, the studio behind The toxic avengerannounced a charitable initiative aimed at addressing medical debt in the United States. The original goal was to eliminate $5 million of debt, with Cineverse pledging to match every $1 million the film earned at the box office with another $1 million in debt relief.
According to Cineverse, “What began as a heroic quest to eliminate $5 million has tripled, thanks to the generosity and passion of The Toxic Avenger fans across the country. Together, you’ve not only achieved that goal, you’ve destroyed it, helping to wipe out over $15 million in medical debt for over 10,000 people in need—a jarring reminder that fandom goes far beyond what happens on the screen.
“This victory belongs to YOU, the fans. Your enthusiasm, shares and contributions have transformed 3x the number of lives we set out to, proving that communities built around storytelling can be a force for good in the real world.”
In the film, Dinklage plays a mild-mannered janitor whose life takes a turn for the worse after he is diagnosed with a fatal disease and denied life-saving treatment because his insurance refuses to pay for it.
It’s a sharp, satirical take on healthcare inequality, so Cineverse’s fundraiser with Undue Medical Debt couldn’t have been a more fitting companion to the film’s themes.
Undue Medical Debt is a nonprofit organization that “leverages donations to purchase qualifying medical debt (for individuals four times or below the federal poverty level or who have medical debt at or above 5% of annual income) in bulk from providers such as hospitals and even collection agencies for pennies on the dollar, meaning that a donated dollar, on average, erases $100 of unpayable medical debt”.
The organization’s unique model turns small donations into huge impacts. According to Cineverse, “every $10 donated [erases] $1,000 in medical debt.
For a film about a disfigured loser fighting corruption with mop in hand, it’s poetic The toxic avenger the community has become a force for good in the real world.
Fans can still contribute to the campaign or learn more about how Undue Medical Debt operates through the official Cineverse website. And for those who missed the film in theaters, The toxic avenger is now available digitally, with a physical release set for October 28, including a collector’s edition in Blu-ray and 4K, plus an Amazon exclusive with the original 1984 classic as a bonus.
With The toxic avengerthe cleaning continues… on and off the screen.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
