The Troma Experience
By Rohel Terrazas

The Troma Experience.

As a young child, I remember watching Svengoolie, every Saturday at 1 p.m. on channel 26. It brought me great movies that brought me to my fascination with the horror and suspense genre of cinema. Throughout many years of manipulating my life, I remember only one movie in vivid detail. It was an normal Saturday afternoon, right after lunch, on a cool November day, when I saw the single greatest film to ever be witnessed by my young, impressionable eyes. The title clearly read, “The Toxic Avenger,” and from just the title I was hooked. It turned out to be a classic superhero story, with a bit of horror added. "The Toxic Avenger" wasn’t the normal pretty-boy, anti-killing superhero. He was much better: his face was distorted by toxic waste, he wore a tutu, and he wasn’t scared of killing all the criminals for a better Tromaville. After the movie, I actually watched the credits for the name of the director and the company that made it. I quickly found the answers; The director was Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, and the company was called Troma.

As a young child, I quickly became attached to Troma, but with age came new data to fill my brain with, further pushing Troma into the dark, spider-web-filled closet in my brain. Years later, I would be reminded of Troma, by a friend, who was, in a kinder sense, advertising a book. The book was called, “Make Your Own Damn Movie,” written by Lloyd Kaufman of Troma. At that moment I searched for the book. I finally found it on Ebay, and I bought it as quick as I saw it. I began to read the book, and quickly I was surprised by what Troma had made. Their movies seemed to be just ultra-gore movies, with disgusting moments, partially tasteful nudity, and containing a silly plot. I was easily amused and used my birthday present from my parents to buy a handful of Troma movies, the complete "Toxic Avenger" collection. Upon receiving them, I spent a good portion of one of my final summer days, to watch all five of the movies. During the "Toxic Avenger" Marathon, I didn’t use the bathroom, I made sure I had enough water and food to sustain me, and made sure there were absolutely no disturbances. The movies gave me a new appreciation for independent movies. I quickly used my allowance to obtain another handful of Troma movies: "Terror Firmer," "Tromeo and Juliet," "Teenage Catgirls in Heat," "Suicide" and "Class of Nuke ‘Em High." I held myself another Troma Marathon, upon receiving these movies. I quickly became convinced that I had to work for Troma studios, and study film in school. I had to meet Lloyd Kaufman and knell before him and kiss the feet of the Troma God.

I found a purpose in life.