Review of Troll Hunter (2010) by Stevenf — 26 Sep 2013

The real driving force of the last decade is the attempt to turn the most illogical and mythical elements that have been in cinema for years, into a believable and often more humanising take, Christopher Nolan did it with Batman, but a more candid approach is the found footage style, Trollhunter takes the ridiculous and turns it into a frightening, exciting but also believable experience. It's not the most polished of "found footage" films or mockumentary styles, but it attempts to add some impressive visuals for a small budget while also presenting this as a real thing, which it isn't. Three excited Norway students as they follow a man who isn't what everyone thinks he is, Hans (Otto Jespersen) is believed to be a poacher, taking out all the bears that are being found dead, but he actually hunts trolls, real, large and very much alive trolls, but the humour aside, the film manages to give a convincing account of Hans, a typical loner who has his truck kitted out with big lights and random medicinal supplies, while he sports a beard and fedora hat, this man seems crazy, as the students keep pointing out, but he soon starts to make sense when the young adults see exactly what he is hunting. The film is shot in a way that we have dark lighting to attempt to mask the trolls in full beam, it certainly adds a more intense and sombre feel, but what is lacking is the acting, it's too put on to be believed as a documentary, we of course need to maintain the fact that this isn't real, but it still has typical blockbuster cliches with forced dialogue to highlight a problem and silly quips to gloss over an issue.

But it's inaccuracies and unexplained plot points aside, there is definitely a lot to admire about this edgy film, it takes a subject that isn't really explored and manages to add spice, we get full descriptions as to why they turn to stone or explode, details are certainly very informative, but the film still leaves holes and is sometimes too funny and ridiculous to take notice. Not the most impressive or serious footage film, but a battling and scary final act sets this film up to be a classic amongst the found footage era, combining flashes of genius in regards to what can be done on a budget and with a few night vision moments, it breaks new ground in the supernatural area much like 'Chronicle' did with its superhero element, but takes a lesser known subject matter which is known for kids but nothing much further, and turn it into something plausible, the young actors let the film down, but it still stands on its own feet and brings something different to the table.