Troll - A Movie Review

Giant monsters have been a fixture in the film industry for decades, and thanks to Legendary Entertainment’s MonsterVerse, these colossal creatures have been raking in box office bucks in the West. It’s no wonder then that other producers are trying to get a piece of the profitable pie. Netflix’s Troll is one such film that capitalizes on the giant creature subgenre, featuring a magnificent beast taken straight from Scandinavian folklore. Despite its novel creature design, however, Troll falls short in other areas, namely in its predictable story and one-dimensional human characters.

Directed by Roar Uthaug, the film takes place in contemporary Norway, where a creature from fairy tales rises from the stone mountains and threatens to destroy everything in its path. From the outset, viewers know how Troll will play out as the humans first try to understand what they are dealing with and then try to stop it at all costs. In this sense, Troll follows the same formula as multiple versions of Godzilla and King Kong, leaving the script with little else to offer than what we’ve already seen in similar films.

Where Troll shines is in the creature itself, a sight to behold as it unleashes its fury over insignificant humans. The film’s budget clearly went towards bringing the monster alive, and it’s thrilling to see child stories being used as weapons against an apparently unstoppable enemy. Even viewers who are not familiar with Scandinavian folklore can quickly get used to the rules that govern the troll’s powers and weaknesses.

While the creature feels marvelously fresh, the same cannot be said of the human cast. The wacky scholar who doesn’t wear pants but is always right (Gard B. Eidsvold), the trigger-happy Prime Minister consultant who thinks violence is the solution to any issue (Fridtjov Såheim), and the renegade scientist who defies authorities to find out the truth (Ine Marie Wilmann) are all too one-dimensional to truly shine. While the cast does what it can to salvage their characters, Troll makes the same mistake as the MonsterVerse films by wasting too much time on characters we ultimately don’t care about. This is a missed opportunity, considering the film teases a more extensive mythological background that viewers would love to know more about.

Despite its flaws, Troll should be commended for its environmentalist ethos. Unlike the first Godzilla, which was a manifestation of nuclear warfare, Troll updates the message to reflect modern concerns about human greed destroying nature and seeking control over a world that might become too eroded to sustain human life. This environmental concern guides the conflict between different characters in the film, as Norway’s government tries to decide whether to face the monstrous threat with clenched fists or open hearts.

At the end of the day, Troll is a story about a giant creature that destroys cities in its wake and the humans who try to prevent catastrophe. It may not win any awards for originality, but it delivers what it promises. A creature feature lives and dies by its monster, and Troll has the clear advantage of conjuring a magnificent beast from Scandinavian folklore. Uthaug ultimately succeeds in developing a movie that will most likely please fans of giant creatures. However, for viewers looking for something fresh to watch, Troll may not quite fit the bill.

All in all, Troll is a movie that delivers on its promise to bring an entertaining monster flick to the screen. The creature itself is a standout feature, and the use of Scandinavian folklore adds a unique flavor to the story. However, the movie's predictable plot and one-dimensional human characters prevent it from reaching the heights of greatness achieved by other recent monster films.

One of the most significant advantages that Troll has over other monster movies is its environmental message. The movie's focus on the destructive consequences of human greed and the importance of protecting the natural world is a refreshing change from the typical monster movie themes of destruction and violence. It's a message that resonates with viewers, and it gives the film an added layer of depth.

Despite its flaws, Troll is a fun and entertaining movie that will appeal to fans of the monster genre. It may not break any new ground, but it delivers on what it promises and offers a fresh take on the creature feature with its use of Scandinavian folklore. If you're looking for a thrilling monster movie with an environmental message, Troll is definitely worth a watch.

In terms of its technical aspects, Troll is a well-made film. The special effects used to bring the creature to life are impressive, and the cinematography captures the rugged beauty of the Norwegian countryside. Director Roar Uthaug shows a skillful hand in crafting suspenseful action scenes, and the movie's pacing is generally solid. However, the film is let down by a lackluster script that fails to make the most of its potential.

The biggest issue with Troll is its reliance on tired tropes and cliches from the monster movie genre. The plot follows a predictable trajectory, and the characters are little more than cardboard cutouts. The wacky scholar, trigger-happy consultant, and renegade scientist are all archetypes we've seen before, and none of them are developed beyond their basic character traits. The movie's attempts to flesh out their backstories feel perfunctory and never add much to the story.

This focus on the human characters is where Troll falls short. While the movie's environmental message is commendable, it's not enough to make up for the lack of depth in the characters. In a genre where the monsters are often the most memorable aspect, Troll doesn't do enough to make its human cast stand out. As a result, the film feels like a missed opportunity to explore the rich mythological background that it hints at.

Despite these flaws, there's still a lot to enjoy in Troll. The creature itself is a marvel to behold, and the movie's action sequences are often thrilling. The film's use of Scandinavian folklore adds an intriguing twist to the monster genre, and the environmental message is a welcome addition. For viewers who are looking for a fun and entertaining monster movie, Troll is worth checking out.

In conclusion, Troll is a flawed but enjoyable monster movie that offers some unique elements to the genre. The creature itself is a standout feature, and the movie's environmental message is commendable. However, the movie's predictable plot and one-dimensional human characters prevent it from reaching the heights of other recent monster films. If you're a fan of the genre and are looking for a fun and entertaining movie, Troll is definitely worth a watch. But if you're looking for something more substantial, you may be left feeling disappointed.