For a certain type of cult-movie junkie, the mention of Troll 2 brings forth some of the most quotable and terrible dialogue ever scripted: “You can’t piss on hospitality!” “They’re eating her… and then they’re going to eat me! Oh my goddddd!” Troll 2 is so fantastically awful it spawned a tribute doc, directed by the movie’s own grown-up child star, lovingly and perfectly titled Best Worst Movie. But if you go to Netflix right now, the Troll 2 the streamer is pushing is a completely different movie.
Disappointing, but what a double feature that would make! The 1990 horror comedy (unintentional comedy) follows a family visiting the town of Nilbog, which they discover is home to a hostile community of goblins who are vegetarian—except they also eat people, which is the kind of logic the film wholeheartedly embraces. There are no actual trolls (here’s another famous line: “Nilbog! It’s goblin spelled backwards!”), but there are shaky acting performances and squishy Z-grade special effects galore. It is impossible not to have a good time while watching Troll 2, and the documentary is also essential viewing.
So what’s the deal with this other Troll 2? You can imagine the 1990 film—made in America by an Italian crew—hasn’t found its niche of weirdos in Norway. Instead, Roar Uthaug, who made the 2018 Tomb Raider as well as 2022’s Troll, draws on actual Nordic folklore and cutting-edge creature effects for his sequel, which continues the story of the first film. Here’s the official Netflix synopsis:
“When a dangerous new troll is awakened, unleashing devastation across Norway, beloved adventurers Nora, Andreas, and Captain Kris are thrust into their most perilous mission yet. To stop the creature’s ruthless rampage, they must enlist new allies and delve into the country’s ancient history, searching for answers. As the clock ticks and the troll’s path of destruction grows wider, our heroes face impossible odds in their fight to save their homeland from falling into darkness.”
Speaking to Variety, Uthaug explained, “I got the idea for a troll movie like this back in the ’90s.” But before you get too excited, he was inspired by Steven Spielberg and other creators of action movies of the era. Not the decade’s finest schlock, in other words.
“That was after watching Armageddon and Independence Day and Jurassic Park. I was thinking, ‘How could we do this in Norway? What would that be about?’”
He continued. “I thought, ‘What would happen if a troll, for real, was walking through the center of Oslo today? How would the government and the army react?’ And that was the first inspiration for the movie.”
The first Troll was a huge non-English language hit for Netflix, and Uthaug told Variety that if part two is similarly well-received, a third could be coming. “We’ve talked about this and the word ‘trollogy’ does sound really good,” he said.
The man appreciates a pun, you say? Perhaps a dorky sense of humor is lurking within? Someone get him a copy of 1990’s Troll 2 ASAP.
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