(Guest review by Brad Neiman)
In a world overrun by technologies such as Google Earth, Wikipedia, GPS devices, smart phones and YouTube, there seem to be less corners of the planet that haven’t been scoured, examined and dissected for our collective amusement and critique.
If the 17th century was the Age of Explorers, the 21st century may go down in history as the Age of Information Overload. However, there are still certain little cinematic jewels to help remind us that there are corners of the wilderness where fantastical creatures and ancient magic may yet exist … especially if that wilderness is nestled in the fjords and craggy mountains of Norway.
“Trollhunter” is a movie directed and written by Andre Overdel and, after playing on Video on Demand for the past few months, was just released last weekend to art house screenings across the country. Be forewarned – while it is a Norwegian film (with English subtitles), that fact should not prevent you from enjoying this highly original and well-crafted film.
Utilizing the “lost footage” format that has been popularized to various degrees of success by “The Blair Witch Project,” “Paranormal Activity” and their related ilk, “Trollhunter” offers an interesting premise to its viewers: what if those cordoned off areas of wilderness “protected” by the government weren’t off-limits to keep you out, but rather to keep the wild and strange creatures contained within them?
The film follows a group of students who, thinking they are investigating an illegal bear poaching operation, unwittingly end up joining and documenting a man (Otto Jesperson) who has been hired by the Norwegian government to track and hunt … rogue trolls. The film briskly follows the group as they encounter various dangers and learn more about these strange beasts. Although the technical limitations of operating a camera for a “lost footage” film oftentimes makes the action being filmed nearly incomprehensible, here it commendably adds to the viewing experience.
The special effects are seamlessly integrated into the movie and, given how small the budget assuredly was compared to most Hollywood flicks, the shaky-cam effectively covers for any shortcomings. Additionally, the creature designs are imaginative and it is entertaining to learn about the various rules (and misconceptions) concerning how best to deal with a rampaging (and hungry) troll.
In a summer movie season of overblown action movies and calculated sequels, “Trollhunter” stands out as an independent and engaging gem of genre filmmaking. It represents the type of moviemaking that deserves our support – at least until it is invariably and unnecessarily remade to appease the lowest common denominator of the American public. (Editor’s Note: too late!).
Don’t miss it.
(Photo: A scene from “Trollhunter,” a new Norwegian import shot in “lost footage” style. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing.)
Brad Neiman lives in Denver, Colo. He doesn’t have an active Twitter account, but he does believe most witticisms can be condensed to 140 characters or less … usually much less.
Related posts:
on 
on 
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
A slew of Sven and Ollie jokes flashed through my head while snickering about Norwegians making a decent movie. However, this film looks like it has much more potential after watching the trailer. I will check this out and forget that I ever tried lutefisk.