Troll Hunter (2010)

Director: André Øvredal

Cast: Otto Jespersen, Robert Stoltenberg, Knut Nærum

Synopsis: A group of students follow a troll hunter in the wilds of Norway.

Troll Hunter received good reviews from both the populist film mags and the likes of Sight and Sound, but it’s difficult to see what all the fuss is about.   It’s good that countries like Norway are getting some of their output noticed beyond their borders, but it’s a shame that it has to be multiplex-friendly stuff like this.   The film loosely follows the Blair Witch Project template, although after a very short while, our three intrepid students know exactly what they’re getting themselves into but choose to carry on anyway.

At the start of the film they’re following the eponymous troll hunter for a reason that is never really clearly explained: they certainly have no idea of the true nature of his work at this point.   After a night-time encounter with a Tossloader (I know), the previously hostile hunter suddenly becomes much more amenable and agrees to allow the students to accompany him on their adventures.

Until the last reel there’s very little tension or suspense to speak of, and impressive effects apart, the film drags for much of its overlong running time.   In fact, the situations that should give rise to mounting tension – the fact that one of the students is a Christian, and therefore ‘visible’ to trolls, and the fact that one of them has contracted rabies from a troll bite – are left so underdeveloped as to be almost incidental.

(Reviewed 31st January 2012)