Troma's War
Encyclopedia
Troma's War, also known as 1,000 Ways to Die in the United States
, is a 1988 action
/adventure film
written by Lloyd Kaufman
and Mitchell Dana and directed by Michael Herz
and Lloyd Kaufman (credited as Samuel Weil). It began production in 1986 and was released in theaters in 1988 shortly after Class of Nuke 'Em High was done making its rounds at the box office.
vet, manages to kill one of the terrorists, he and Taylor lead the other passengers to a safe haven where they can stay until things have cleared up. After being captured, said passengers are forced to watch a neo-Nazi brutally murder an air steward and a priest. Gathering what weapons they can find, the remaining passengers storm the camp in hopes of recovering their lost friends. Meanwhile, back at the camp, a musician's girlfriend is shot and killed by an obese terrorist wielding an AK-47
assault rifle. After losing a fight with the Nazi, the rocker's fellow bandmate is kidnapped by another terrorist leader named Señor Sida (Mr. AIDS in Spanish), who leads a cult known as the AIDS
brigade who hope to infiltrate AIDS to the US as a part of the terrorists' plan. Sida proceeds to violently rape the captive woman. Meanwhile, an attractive young African American lady is taken to see the brains behind the terrorist operation, a pair of Siamese twins conjoined at the head. Parker and Taylor lead the remaining passengers in a surprise attack on the terrorists' hideout. Señor Sida, while trying to escape, is shot in the scrotum with a crossbow
by the young lady he raped. Having been transformed by her experience, the African American lady hunts down the Siamese twins armed with a machete
. After finding them, she violently hacks them apart. She then goes after a terrorist who tried to have his way with her and stuffs a grenade
in his mouth. After having realized the terrorists' plan to invade America, the remaining survivors lock and load, forming a small platoon
that plan to invade the terrorists' main headquarters the next morning. Later that night, Taylor and his love interest Lydia share an intimate moment with one another. Our heroes plan to storm the camp later the next morning. The men refuse to let the women go with them so they don't put their lives at risk. Hardwick, a depressed widower, volunteers to drive a truck full of explosives into a cargo boat hauling the terrorists into the US. After alerting the terrorists, Hardwick is shot down, ruining their plan. At the last minute, the females ride in and help kill off the terrorists. A morbidly obese passenger named Cooney decides to fill Hardwick's role. He fights his way through the terrorists blocking his way until he gets to the truck. Just as the boat is taking off, Cooney drives the truck off a ramp into the boat, destroying it. The unlikely heroes mourn the loss of Cooney, until he appears unharmed, having ditched the truck as a last minute resort. Before the credits roll the soldiers look into the screen and proudly proclaim, "America!"
and Class of Nuke 'Em High
, Troma began production on what was intended as a criticism of President Ronald Reagan
's attempt to glamorize armed conflict. The film was initially rejected by the MPAA as too violent to even receive an R rating, so several scenes were cut from to the film, including the entire AIDS subplot. Despite this the film was rejected a second time leading to even heavier cuts. The butchered end result of the film was poorly received. In the aftermath of the film's poor financial performance, Troma experienced financial hardship, jettisoning the company from the Hollywood mainstream. Troma's War's budget was $17,000,000, making it Tromas most expensive film to date.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is a 1988 action
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
/adventure film
Adventure film
Adventure films are a genre of film.Unlike pure, low-budget action films they often use their action scenes preferably to display and explore exotic locations in an energetic way....
written by Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman
Lloyd Kaufman is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and occasional actor. With producer Michael Herz, he is the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio, and the director of many of their feature films, including The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet. Kaufman also serves as...
and Mitchell Dana and directed by Michael Herz
Michael Herz (producer)
Michael Herz is an American film producer, director and screenwriter. With Lloyd Kaufman, the two are the co-founders of Troma Entertainment, the world's longest running independent film studio, known for their comedic horror films, including the cult favorite Toxic Avenger series and the...
and Lloyd Kaufman (credited as Samuel Weil). It began production in 1986 and was released in theaters in 1988 shortly after Class of Nuke 'Em High was done making its rounds at the box office.
Plot synopsis
After a commercial airline crashes on an uncharted island, the surviving passengers venture to the other end of the island, which they find is home to a terrorist infiltration camp. When Parker, a mentally unstable NamVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
vet, manages to kill one of the terrorists, he and Taylor lead the other passengers to a safe haven where they can stay until things have cleared up. After being captured, said passengers are forced to watch a neo-Nazi brutally murder an air steward and a priest. Gathering what weapons they can find, the remaining passengers storm the camp in hopes of recovering their lost friends. Meanwhile, back at the camp, a musician's girlfriend is shot and killed by an obese terrorist wielding an AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
assault rifle. After losing a fight with the Nazi, the rocker's fellow bandmate is kidnapped by another terrorist leader named Señor Sida (Mr. AIDS in Spanish), who leads a cult known as the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
brigade who hope to infiltrate AIDS to the US as a part of the terrorists' plan. Sida proceeds to violently rape the captive woman. Meanwhile, an attractive young African American lady is taken to see the brains behind the terrorist operation, a pair of Siamese twins conjoined at the head. Parker and Taylor lead the remaining passengers in a surprise attack on the terrorists' hideout. Señor Sida, while trying to escape, is shot in the scrotum with a crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
by the young lady he raped. Having been transformed by her experience, the African American lady hunts down the Siamese twins armed with a machete
Machete
The machete is a large cleaver-like cutting tool. The blade is typically long and usually under thick. In the English language, an equivalent term is matchet, though it is less commonly known...
. After finding them, she violently hacks them apart. She then goes after a terrorist who tried to have his way with her and stuffs a grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
in his mouth. After having realized the terrorists' plan to invade America, the remaining survivors lock and load, forming a small platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
that plan to invade the terrorists' main headquarters the next morning. Later that night, Taylor and his love interest Lydia share an intimate moment with one another. Our heroes plan to storm the camp later the next morning. The men refuse to let the women go with them so they don't put their lives at risk. Hardwick, a depressed widower, volunteers to drive a truck full of explosives into a cargo boat hauling the terrorists into the US. After alerting the terrorists, Hardwick is shot down, ruining their plan. At the last minute, the females ride in and help kill off the terrorists. A morbidly obese passenger named Cooney decides to fill Hardwick's role. He fights his way through the terrorists blocking his way until he gets to the truck. Just as the boat is taking off, Cooney drives the truck off a ramp into the boat, destroying it. The unlikely heroes mourn the loss of Cooney, until he appears unharmed, having ditched the truck as a last minute resort. Before the credits roll the soldiers look into the screen and proudly proclaim, "America!"
Production
After finding success in such films as The Toxic AvengerThe Toxic Avenger
The Toxic Avenger is a 1984 comedy horror film released by Troma Entertainment, known for producing low budget B-movies with campy concepts. Virtually ignored upon its first release, The Toxic Avenger caught on with filmgoers after a long and successful midnight movie engagement at the famed...
and Class of Nuke 'Em High
Class of Nuke 'Em High
Class of Nuke 'Em High, also known as Atomic High School, is a 1986 film made by cult classic B-movie production group Troma Entertainment. It was directed by Richard W. Haines and Lloyd Kaufman under the pseudonym Samuel Weil...
, Troma began production on what was intended as a criticism of President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's attempt to glamorize armed conflict. The film was initially rejected by the MPAA as too violent to even receive an R rating, so several scenes were cut from to the film, including the entire AIDS subplot. Despite this the film was rejected a second time leading to even heavier cuts. The butchered end result of the film was poorly received. In the aftermath of the film's poor financial performance, Troma experienced financial hardship, jettisoning the company from the Hollywood mainstream. Troma's War's budget was $17,000,000, making it Tromas most expensive film to date.