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11 Troll Hunter
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Director: Andre Øvredal
Starring: Otto Jespersen, Glenn Erland Tosterud, Tomas Alf Larsen
This Norwegian treat is surely one of the most original films to hit our shores in years, despite using that old “found footage” chestnut. We’re hard-pressed to think of another way the filmmakers could have done it, however, so we’ll forgive them… and besides, who cares when the premise is so delicious?
Trolls, you see, are real, and they secretly roam the Norwegian countryside while special troll hunters (in this case, the world-weary Hans, played by Otto Jespersen) keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t wander into human territory. A group of teens making a documentary stumble across Hans during a hunt and soon a whole new world of weird opens up to them.
The trolls are impressive for such a low-budget film, the CGI giants stomping on trees and hanging out under bridges just like the creatures we’ve seen in fairy tales for generations. It’s the attention to detail that makes it all so brilliant, though: such as when we’re told that trolls can “smell Christian blood” and someone asks if Muslims count, too. Or when we discover they hate hymns and can turn into rock. And what about the morality of killing baby trolls, anyway…?
Best of all, when Troll Hunter was released over here, Momentum Pictures did this . How can we not love the film after that?
Best moment: The humans are trapped in a cave filled with farting trolls – hilarious and yet gut-wrenchingly terrifying all at once.
Jayne Nelson
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