Looking into illegal bear hunting in Norway, a group of students making a documentary focus on a rather unusual character who appears to be involved - notable with his neighbours for his odd hours and behaviour. Elusive to say the least, they end up following the man on one of his typical overnight journeys, only to find that his job doesn't officially exist, his employers don't official exist and his prey is much more than the bears that are being reported as the cause of damage and then found dead.
This film got good press in the UK partly because of the cool trailer doing the rounds that made it look like an oddly amusing horror film with the central idea essentially being the "found footage" device of Blair Witch. Last Broadcast, Cloverfield and so on. Sometimes the result of this is good, sometimes not so good but the problem is rarely with this plot device in particular – indeed with lower budget films it helps excuse the rough footage and lack of steady-cams etc. No, the central idea here is not the problem because it is actually quite a good one that expands on local mythology and offers fun and horror. Sadly the film doesn't really deliver fully on any of this and often seems unsure of what it is trying to deliver.
The trolls themselves are wonderfully comic book but also seem large and lumbering with it. The film doesn't use them particularly well though, for the majority of the time they are not particularly dangerous and seem evadable by simply running and panicking. This fine when the film has a comic air but there are times when it seems to want the audience to feel horror or tension, but at these times it just can't pull it off. The lack of genuine danger and threat is also a problem in regards the conclusion – specially that it comes out of nowhere and almost without explanation; a government official that had been mocked for the whole film is suddenly someone whom the students flee from when even spotting his car coming? This sense of fear and conspiracy has no root and it makes the ending incredibly weak and unsatisfying.
The film isn't without its moments though and indeed some of the footage of trolls in caves and forests are very well shot and effective. The script throws plenty of references to Norwegian troll mythology in; some of this will translate well to other viewers but for me personally the majority of the references went over my head and didn't travel well. This has an effect because it did mean some of the wit and intelligence didn't get through to me – not the film's fault per se, but still a problem for me as a viewer trying to get the most out of it.
In terms of casting the students are reasonably entertaining in a light hearted way but Jespersen is the heart of the film and he carries it well with his performance even if his character doesn't particularly make sense. The effects are impressive throughout, although personally I don't think they should have rushed to reveal them they way they did in both the film and the trailer. I also think they needed to do more work with them in terms of delivery to maximise their effect within the film – as it was they always felt like they were never used as more than marketing tools rather than a part of a functioning film.
TrollHunter is still a fun film it must be said, but it is also a disappointing one. It frequently doesn't seem determined enough in its direction and aims and, as good as the effects are, the trolls themselves are not used well enough within this world. This general failure to build mood and tone also totally cuts the legs off the ending, when suddenly everything is urgent, sinister and fatal. A curio but doesn't work well enough as a film.
This film got good press in the UK partly because of the cool trailer doing the rounds that made it look like an oddly amusing horror film with the central idea essentially being the "found footage" device of Blair Witch. Last Broadcast, Cloverfield and so on. Sometimes the result of this is good, sometimes not so good but the problem is rarely with this plot device in particular – indeed with lower budget films it helps excuse the rough footage and lack of steady-cams etc. No, the central idea here is not the problem because it is actually quite a good one that expands on local mythology and offers fun and horror. Sadly the film doesn't really deliver fully on any of this and often seems unsure of what it is trying to deliver.
The trolls themselves are wonderfully comic book but also seem large and lumbering with it. The film doesn't use them particularly well though, for the majority of the time they are not particularly dangerous and seem evadable by simply running and panicking. This fine when the film has a comic air but there are times when it seems to want the audience to feel horror or tension, but at these times it just can't pull it off. The lack of genuine danger and threat is also a problem in regards the conclusion – specially that it comes out of nowhere and almost without explanation; a government official that had been mocked for the whole film is suddenly someone whom the students flee from when even spotting his car coming? This sense of fear and conspiracy has no root and it makes the ending incredibly weak and unsatisfying.
The film isn't without its moments though and indeed some of the footage of trolls in caves and forests are very well shot and effective. The script throws plenty of references to Norwegian troll mythology in; some of this will translate well to other viewers but for me personally the majority of the references went over my head and didn't travel well. This has an effect because it did mean some of the wit and intelligence didn't get through to me – not the film's fault per se, but still a problem for me as a viewer trying to get the most out of it.
In terms of casting the students are reasonably entertaining in a light hearted way but Jespersen is the heart of the film and he carries it well with his performance even if his character doesn't particularly make sense. The effects are impressive throughout, although personally I don't think they should have rushed to reveal them they way they did in both the film and the trailer. I also think they needed to do more work with them in terms of delivery to maximise their effect within the film – as it was they always felt like they were never used as more than marketing tools rather than a part of a functioning film.
TrollHunter is still a fun film it must be said, but it is also a disappointing one. It frequently doesn't seem determined enough in its direction and aims and, as good as the effects are, the trolls themselves are not used well enough within this world. This general failure to build mood and tone also totally cuts the legs off the ending, when suddenly everything is urgent, sinister and fatal. A curio but doesn't work well enough as a film.