Okay, to be honest, even before I sat down, I knew this one was gonna be a blast. This is one of those hidden gems that a lot of people just overlook. And, boy, is that a mistake.
The film is, of course, Norwegian and in case you're not familiar with Norse mythology - trolls live there. Quietly dwelling inside mountains and stones, hidden from sunlight. Now, you might think that this sort of a subject can't be taken seriously. These are, in fact, trolls we're talking about. Who the fuck believes in trolls? However, if you put that aside just for a minute, you'll instantly be pulled into the film. You'll find yourself mesmerized by the stunning locations and the amazing special effects.
The story is also very well paced and the experience is even better because the whole thing was done with a hand-held camera. So, in a way, it's a make-believe documentary. But, it represents is so much more! The drama and the disbelief are shown superbly. Witty humor is just all over the place, but you hear a lot of the explanations needed as well. You inevitably familiarize yourself with a lot of myths and the folklore itself. On top of that, the film even delivers a horror experience filled with suspense and gruesome gore details.
Special props to Otto Jespersen. I tell you, if you saw this guy's character on the street, you just might think that he actually is a troll hunter. He nailed it.
No doubt, this is a hit in Norway. Can't wait to see the reaction overseas. This might even be a future Norwegian cult film... It's that good and it gets 8 out of 10.
