There have been a ton of movies released since THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT that have supposedly been “lost film” movies. These are movies that present a story using hand held camera footage that was supposed to have been lost but then rediscovered and can now be shown to the public. Some work (like THE LAST EXORCISM) and others don’t (too many). TROLL HUNTER works and works well.
This Norwegian film begins with a group of students shooting a film that’s supposed to be about poachers and hunters killing bears in the nearby forest. The problem is that once they arrive and see the bear that’s been killed, they know this wasn’t normal nor was it done by hunters. Seeing a man off to himself, they begin to follow him. Rumor has it that he is a troll hunter, those fabled creatures found in fairy tales.
The group follows him around and pesters him until he finally allows them to go with him in his travels. He drops hints to them that there are indeed trolls roaming the various forests but that the government does all it can to keep this fact unknown to the world. Of course the kids think he’s full of it but play along thinking they can get an interesting movie out of it. They get more than they bargained for.
One night after he leaves them behind to set a series of troll traps, he suddenly comes back and tells them to sit still and be quiet. He continues to ask them if any of them are Christians to which they always respond no. It seems that trolls have an aversion to Christians and can smell them out.
As the group sits and jokes, oblivious to his warnings to be quiet, they see something shaking the trees in the distance. Soon they can see what it is when they come face to face with a giant troll breaking through the branches. Running for their lives with the troll in pursuit, it is the troll hunter who rescues them when they reach his vehicle, equipped with lights that freeze the troll until morning when the sunlight turns him to stone.
Here is where the film changes, becoming a quest for the group to document the reality that trolls do indeed exist and the cover up being initiated by the government to keep people unaware. It seems that the trolls have been given a substantial piece of land where they are to remain but recently have begun to cross over. One can only imagine if an army of these giants were to cross their border. Only the troll hunter keeps them in line.
This movie works on so many levels. As a “lost footage” true story film that turns once we glimpse the trolls (not that I would believe in them to being with). When the trolls make an appearance we find ourselves in another world where fairy tale creatures exist and few can hold them back. Rather than a movie about someone whose mind is lost that believes in trolls, we find ourselves believing as well.
The acting involved (don’t expect names because I’m nearly certain no one would recognize them anyway) is well played with each actor making us believe they are this group of youngsters who find themselves in way over their heads. And the actor portraying the grizzled troll hunter does a remarkable job as the worn out man who must see to it they’re contained.
The special effects are remarkable with stony giants come to life on the big screen. These aren’t the lumbering creatures that perhaps a Harryhausen might have made 40 years ago, these are fast moving creations that would rush after you with little hope of escape.
The movie is vastly entertaining, taking its time to unwind and allow the story to unfold. Its not the normal jump into the creature 5 minutes into the film. We get to know the characters first, to witness their motivations and beliefs before we get to the trolls. But once we do it’s a non-stop ride of imagination and combination of fear and fun you will enjoy.
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