Troll (2022) -- Norwegian Folklore Meets Monster-Sized Effects

 In Norwegian folklore, trolls factor very much into the tapestry of the stunning Scandinavian landscape.  Nordic mythology describes them as being family oriented but not much of a fan of humans especially those embracing Christianity, and will deliberately  cause harm if disturbed from their mountain homes. There are varying descriptions and characteristics of these beings, but the general consensus is that they are dangerous and shouldn’t be taken lightly. 

There have been a few movies about trolls—for adults, that is—with 2010’s Trollhunter leading the pack.  But with the new Netflix film Troll, we get something a little more akin to Godzilla than your average monster-of-the-week flick.  Yes the language is Norwegian but you won’t even notice it, there’s much more to look at.

A project to blast a tunnel into the side of a mountain goes awry when it awakens what we know is a troll (hence the obvious title!) from its ancient slumber.  It begins wreaking havoc in the countryside and begins to raise the eyebrows of the prime minister and her cabinet. 

Nora Tidemman is a paleontologist working out in the field when she is interrupted by the prime minister’s advisor Andreas who directs her to accompany him at the order of the government.  She discovers what has been happening and immediately thinks of her father Tobias, a folklorist who raised Nora alone after her mother’s death.  He instilled not only family values but the notion that you need to believe to see (and not the other way around).  They were once close but have been estranged for years, yet when Nora shows up at his cabin with Andreas and a military captain, Kris, Tobias is hesitant and even hostile—until he sees the computer footage of what is certainly a troll destroying homes and killing unsuspecting folks. He is 100% of the belief that the government’s plan to pretty much blow up the troll is a massive mistake in judgement. He consults his years of research into trolls (which incidentally got him fired from his past job) and tries to convince the powers that be that using military force will not stop and only aggravate the monster. 

Alas, as is common in most governments across the world, power and stupidity trump reason and they attempt to take out the troll with heavy artillery. When that doesn't work, they try various other options that are not successful - and the troll is determined to be making his way to the capitol. The prime minister and her cronies finally decide to utilize nuclear weapons which will most certainly cause death, destruction and long-lasting effects for Oslo, but they feel they have no choice.  Naturally Nora and her rag-tag team disagree - and the question starts to become not when they should nuke the troll, but IF. 

Fans of horror, be aware that this is not particularly a "horror" film. It is much more akin to Godzilla or King Kong, and brings the action in droves.  There are a few moments of abject terror, but nothing particularly scary.  The monster is spectacular, and that moment when Nora discovers what they are dealing with put me in mind of the scene in Jurassic Park where Dr Grant & Co. first see the Brachiosaurus. Shock, excitement, disbelief....

There is not a whole lot of originality in the base of the plot -- which is basically "Where'd that come from?! Kill it!" --but the troll himself as well as the deep dive into Norse folklore more than make up for it.  The sympathy that you express when they are shooting King Kong or trying to bomb Godzilla?  It's exactly like that.  Your love of the monster has you rooting for him by halfway through the film.  

I feel like they ended it in such a way that a sequel is imminent, particularly because the film has done so well on Netflix. It's a fun popcorn movie that is probably well on its way to being a franchise - and I'm okay with that.