I started watching this one based on a recommendation that I got on Twitter. It looks like it will be a good addition to the 31 Movies of Halloween. I didn't start watching Troll Hunter with very high expectations. However, I was told that since I was a fan of the worlds that Guillermo Del Toro creates. I would love this too. That person was about half right. Troll Hunter is pretty fun and unique. Not very many movies out there that have to do with government conspiracies that cover up the existence of large, barbaric Trolls. That is original. The trolls themselves are pretty funny. They make me really miss Jim Henson. Thankfully, the director keeps away from the overuse of CGI and brings us actual guys in suits. I know, I know, cover your erections. The problem is that the Trolls look like giant cartoons. If I wanted to take this movie seriously. It's really hard to do with a baffoonish looking brute as your main antagonist.
The story in the movie is actually a bit more engaging. It has to do with some of what I was talking about above. A government cover-up is in place, employing one man that goes around Norway hunting trolls that have escaped from their "pen". He is followed by some nosey young adults that want to document what he does. Tired and over his job, the hunter allows them to follow him around watching him engage these beasts. Everyone in the movie seems to have a problem with the young adults filming, but they all allow it. This is also a found footage type movie. We are supposedly watching some tapes that were sent to a journalist that is documenting all of this in this 'Mocumentary'. Bumpers in the beginning and the end of the movie note this for us. The movie is also in Norwegian so be prepared to read. It's not that daunting though. Very easy, even for those that don't really like foreign movies.
The problems that I found were with the pacing in the movie. Some areas seemed extremely slow, where others seemed right on pace. Scenes with the group following the hunter around are really tedious. The banter either doesn't translate well or it just wasn't that engaging. Now, when the trolls show up it is equally disappointed and thrilling. It's hard to describe. Like I said the Trolls in this movie look like Sweetums from the Muppets. Not very scary, but I see what they were going for. I have heard that they are going to try to remake this movie for American audiences. I am glad that I watched this movie first. It wasn't the best, but it wont be nearly as bad as the remake that is underway.
The scary parts of the movie are waiting around in the dark. You have a lot of that. Not really too much gore. In fact... I don't remember any blood or gore whatsoever. One of the main characters suffers a nasty bite and the wound doesn't even look that bad. Huh... Oh well, I would still suggest checking this one out. It is worth it. Very unique and very original. It is on the same type of level as King Kong when it comes to how scary it is. So it's pretty tame. Bust this one out to enjoy with friends and you wont be disappointed.
- The movie is full of old Scandinavian Fairy Tale references. (Three Billy Goats Gruff, Askeladden)
- Most of the main characters in the movie are all portrayed by Norwegian comedians.
- The film has a scene in which Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says that Norway has Trolls.
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