Special Features:

• Deleted Scenes
• Improv and Bloopers
• Extended Scenes
• Visual Effects

Cast

Otto Jespersen
Glenn Erland Tosterud
Johanna Mørck
Tomas Alf Larsen
Urmila Berg-Domaas
Hans Morten Hansen
Robert Stoltenberg
Knut Nærum
Eirik Bech
Inge Erik Henjesand
Tom Jørgensen
Benedicte Aubert Ringnes
Magne Skjævesland
Torunn Lødemel Stokkeland
Finn Norvald Øvredal
Kaja Halden Aarrestad

Trailer

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I'm always a little wary of movies which appear from the film festivals with glowing praise and five-star reviews as, in some cases, the film in question was playing to a very small audience and, occasionally, is so in tune with the festival's viewers, that it was basically preaching to the choir. Additionally, there are so many film festivals, it probably isn't too difficult to find one which gave a film an award for something which can then be used for marketing purposes. Troll Hunter emerged from the Festival circuit with people falling over themselves to praise it and, with a title like that (even though the original Norwegian title of Trolljegeren isn't quite so catchy), it was something I was extremely keen to watch.

As, unsurprisingly, no cinemas near me were showing it, I did what I usually do and pre-ordered the US BD in order to see what all the fuss was about and whether it could live up to expectations. The UK release followed couple of months later and, as it had been a while since I saw the film, was keen to watch it again and commit my thoughts to cyberspace.

The film begins with some introductory text:

On October 13, 2008, Filmkameratene AS received an anonymous package with two hard disks containing 283 minutes of filmed material. This film is a rough cut version of that material. Everything is shown in chronological order and no images have been manipulated.

A team of investigators spent more than a year trying to establish whether this was a practical joke or if the material was authentic. They concluded that it was authentic.

Inspired by a joke Jens Stoltenberg, the Norwegian Prime Minister, told at a press conference, Troll Hunter follows a small filmmaking crew from Volda University – Thomas, Johanna and Kalle – who set out to investigate the large number of animal and human deaths in the country. Sceptical of the official explanation from Finn Haugen from the Wildlife Board, who claims the deaths are due to rogue bears, whose carcasses are found at the scene, they decide to follow a strange unlicensed hunter.

After following the man, Hans, for a while as he moves around in a powerful Land Rover towing a large trailer and pestering him for an interview, they pursue him one night as he parks near a wooded area and heads into the forest. Suddenly, when the strange noises become much louder and Hans yells 'Troll!', they end up running away from their quarry, with Thomas being attacked by something. Left without a car which has been inexplicably flipped on its side, mangled and left without tyres, they accept Hans’ offer of a lift and persuade him to go on the record.

Knowing he is unlikely to shake off these determined students, Hans agrees to let them follow him as he goes about his work, first making sure none of them believe in God or Jesus (as trolls can smell Christians) and they will follow every instruction he gives, no matter how bizarre. Although understandably sceptical that Hans spends his time researching, pursuing and killing trolls – something which they only thing he exists in fairytales – the three decide to put their scepticism to the test and meet up with the bearded hunter.

The next day, they unwillingly follow his first request and strip off and wash in a nearby stream, paying particular attention to their armpits and groins, before rubbing 'troll stench' over their bodies and clothes in order to document Hans’ activities. First on the agenda is returning to the area where Thomas was attacked as Hans is in search of the troll which has left its territory and is now very dangerous. Wielding a gun which limits a powerful UV beam, Hans disappears into the woods leaving the three students alone where they begin to believe this is all part of an elaborate prank and hidden cameras are recording their every move.

Their misgivings about Hans disappears fairly quickly when a giant three headed monster emerges from the trees, with their documentary subject blasting it with UV rays until it turns to stone. Now believing Hans is a real Troll Hunter and an unsung Norwegian hero, they watch him smash the statue, use explosives to turn it into gravel and contact Finn Haugen who is extremely angry at the presence of the camera crew and Hans’ willingness to go on the record. However, the job must be done and soon a van arrives with some Polish labourers and a dead bear, which is placed at the edge of the forest, with Finn making some footprints around the corpse.

During their travels and interviews with Hans, it transpires he isn't a lone hunter, but someone who works for the Troll Security Service, a secret governmental organisation which is charged with keeping trolls a secret by ensuring they stay within their designated zones and killing any which leave their territory and pose a threat to populated areas. As Hans doesn't receive any bonuses, nighttime pay or much in the way of appreciation, he has become disillusioned and decides now is the time to make what he does public knowledge, so makes Thomas promise that, whatever happens, the footage they have shot remain safe and is aired on television.

With all the material coming from Kalle's camera, Troll Hunter is one of the latest in a long line of 'found footage' (or faux documentary) films, shot like The Blair Witch Project, with Thomas in front of the camera conducting interviews and acting as the director, Johanna almost always seen carrying a boom microphone and wearing a pair of headphones and Kalle appearing infrequently. Most recent found footage films, such as the Paranormal Activity series, are played as straight horror films, designed to scare the audience as much as possible and, whilst Troll Hunter is predominately a horror film, it frequently moves into horror-comedy territory with some genuinely funny scenarios and lines within its amusing subject matter.

Making a successful horror-comedy is extremely difficult as there aren't many which fit in both genres, eliciting laughs and jumps from the audience, with John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London, Evil Dead 2 and Shaun of the Dead being notable exceptions to the rule. With scenes with extreme tension, highly paced action sequences and many laugh out loud moments, this is a perfect example of how to blend comedy and horror within the faux documentary aesthetic, so writer/director André Øvredal should be applauded for coming up with such a great concept which he carries out with aplomb.

This was one of the best films of 2011, as well as being one of my favourites from last year, but isn't one which will pick up any mainstream awards and it was no surprise when the Oscar nominations were announced and Troll Hunter was absent from each category. However, Oscars aren't necessarily a sign of quality as the stunning film Senna didn't even make the long list in the Best Documentary category and the number of films, actors and directors (such as Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese) who have been overlooked by the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences is too long to put here. Needless to say, this is a superb film which has understandably gone under the radar and will become a fan favourite for decades to come.

The Disc —>