The Film:
Killer Film gave the film two reviews back for its limited theatrical run from Brad Reiter (full review here) and for its Video-On-Demand debut from Jon Peters (full review here). We grabbed their reviews for a quickie guide to the film for its Blu-ray release from Magnet Releasing.
Brad Reiter: Scandinavian countries have given us some really good, original movies as of late, and this is no different. André Øvredal has come up with a great story with engaging characters that the viewer cares about. The script has a good mix of comedy, horror and suspense. The effects are great as the trolls look real. The interaction between the trolls and humans helps to bring the realism out even more. Being a found footage mockumentary, one thing this film needed to do to make sure of the realism was to not have any unnecessary music. The only...
Killer Film gave the film two reviews back for its limited theatrical run from Brad Reiter (full review here) and for its Video-On-Demand debut from Jon Peters (full review here). We grabbed their reviews for a quickie guide to the film for its Blu-ray release from Magnet Releasing.
Brad Reiter: Scandinavian countries have given us some really good, original movies as of late, and this is no different. André Øvredal has come up with a great story with engaging characters that the viewer cares about. The script has a good mix of comedy, horror and suspense. The effects are great as the trolls look real. The interaction between the trolls and humans helps to bring the realism out even more. Being a found footage mockumentary, one thing this film needed to do to make sure of the realism was to not have any unnecessary music. The only...
- 8/23/2011
- by Jon Peters
- Killer Films
The title of first time writer/director André Øvredal's first feature is a fair indication of what the film is going to be about. Within the first few minutes we're told 283 minutes of unedited filmed material has been discovered before being propelled into the documentary footage of three students from Volda College who are trailing a bear poacher. As questioner, Thomas leads the trio of would-be Michael Moores with Kalle as his cameraman and Johanna in charge of sound.
Initially their efforts to get close to the elusive Hans are unsuccessful. Through the documentary footage we're surveilling Hans alongside the trio, gradually piecing together this mysterious character before finally meeting him. Out all night and never back before sunrise, his Land Rover covered in spikes and slashes and hung with strange herbs and tufts of fur, Hans is fascinating to watch and no less so, once full contact is made.
Initially their efforts to get close to the elusive Hans are unsuccessful. Through the documentary footage we're surveilling Hans alongside the trio, gradually piecing together this mysterious character before finally meeting him. Out all night and never back before sunrise, his Land Rover covered in spikes and slashes and hung with strange herbs and tufts of fur, Hans is fascinating to watch and no less so, once full contact is made.
- 8/22/2011
- Shadowlocked
Trollhunter
Directed by Andre Øvredal
Written by André Øvredal and Håvard S. Johansen
2011, Norway
The 1980 Italian exploitation film Cannibal Holocaust, directed by Ruggero Deodato, broke traditional cinematic conventions while creating major controversy following its release. Although camcorders, cell phones, and the like hadn’t been invented yet, the main character, an aspiring documentary filmmaker, uses a 16mm Bolex camera to much the same effect. But it wasn’t until 1999 that The Blair Witch Project shattered box office records for independent films, and with that, helped launch a new sub-genre of horror into the mainstream. Ever since, there have been a number of imitators, and most have been surprisingly original in their own unique ways. A variety of genre themes have been experimented with via the handheld, found footage approach – incorporating everything form the Loch Ness monster, ghosts, zombies, the gulf war, alien invasions, demonic possession, online dating and more. But we’ve never seen Trolls,...
Directed by Andre Øvredal
Written by André Øvredal and Håvard S. Johansen
2011, Norway
The 1980 Italian exploitation film Cannibal Holocaust, directed by Ruggero Deodato, broke traditional cinematic conventions while creating major controversy following its release. Although camcorders, cell phones, and the like hadn’t been invented yet, the main character, an aspiring documentary filmmaker, uses a 16mm Bolex camera to much the same effect. But it wasn’t until 1999 that The Blair Witch Project shattered box office records for independent films, and with that, helped launch a new sub-genre of horror into the mainstream. Ever since, there have been a number of imitators, and most have been surprisingly original in their own unique ways. A variety of genre themes have been experimented with via the handheld, found footage approach – incorporating everything form the Loch Ness monster, ghosts, zombies, the gulf war, alien invasions, demonic possession, online dating and more. But we’ve never seen Trolls,...
- 7/12/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Norwegian mountain Trolls are dumb. And they smell bad. And they have a low red blood cell count that causes them to either explode or turn to stone when exposed to light. Just when the ‘Found Footage’ genre was getting stale, it gets a much-needed shot in the arm with Trollhunter, a new mock-documentary from Norway about a dude who hunts trolls that deftly straddles satire and thrills. It’s not without its flaws but Trollhunter is one of the best times I’ve had at the movies so far this year.
A trio of Norwegian college students (Glenn Erland Tosterud, Tomas Alf Larsen, and Johanna Morch) is filming a documentary about illegal bear poachers when they meet and interview a gruff, curious recluse named Hans (Otto Jespersen) who turns out to be an ace troll hunter who works for a secret Norwegian government agency known as the Troll Security Service.
A trio of Norwegian college students (Glenn Erland Tosterud, Tomas Alf Larsen, and Johanna Morch) is filming a documentary about illegal bear poachers when they meet and interview a gruff, curious recluse named Hans (Otto Jespersen) who turns out to be an ace troll hunter who works for a secret Norwegian government agency known as the Troll Security Service.
- 7/1/2011
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Yet another addition to the relentless found footage horror subgenre, this ode to Norse folklore attempts to present fable as conspiracy based fact in its demystifying of the legendary Scandinavian monster. The Troll Hunter’s premise is no less than intriguing: a group of student documentary filmmakers attempt to chronicle the unscrupulous activities of Norway’s titular Trollbuster. The man in question, Hans – who cuts a sinister shady figure in black hunter hat and gear – reluctantly agrees on one condition: they do exactly as he instructs.
If Quint from Jaws swapped the shores of Amity for the mountains of Norway and had a penchant for trolls over the fin-friendly variety then our man Hans wouldn’t be a too distant remove from the weathered seafarer. Our secrecy shrouded myth hunter is a chap who literally lives and breaths trolls – his trailer dwelling is littered with troll trophies,...
Yet another addition to the relentless found footage horror subgenre, this ode to Norse folklore attempts to present fable as conspiracy based fact in its demystifying of the legendary Scandinavian monster. The Troll Hunter’s premise is no less than intriguing: a group of student documentary filmmakers attempt to chronicle the unscrupulous activities of Norway’s titular Trollbuster. The man in question, Hans – who cuts a sinister shady figure in black hunter hat and gear – reluctantly agrees on one condition: they do exactly as he instructs.
If Quint from Jaws swapped the shores of Amity for the mountains of Norway and had a penchant for trolls over the fin-friendly variety then our man Hans wouldn’t be a too distant remove from the weathered seafarer. Our secrecy shrouded myth hunter is a chap who literally lives and breaths trolls – his trailer dwelling is littered with troll trophies,...
- 6/8/2011
- by Oliver Pfeiffer
- Obsessed with Film
There’s an odd sense of wonder within this “found footage” that tickles us in giddy anticipation for every tree branch that snaps, for every roar, for every glimpse of these mythical creatures that is really the only reason why one would keep watching yet another mockumentary of discovered “lost footage”. I think if you’re that type of person that flips through some cryptozoology books or that Googles possible Bigfoot sightings hoping-against-hope that you’ll feast your eyes upon one of these rumored creatures, then Troll Hunter is for you.
It’s a kissing cousin to The Blair Witch Project in every sense of the word, but it becomes a bit droll whenever the title creatures aren’t roaring, killing, or farting.
Yes, farting, but whatever. Director André Øvredal certainly is a playful chap when it comes to these creatures, even right down to their looks. These aloof monsters...
It’s a kissing cousin to The Blair Witch Project in every sense of the word, but it becomes a bit droll whenever the title creatures aren’t roaring, killing, or farting.
Yes, farting, but whatever. Director André Øvredal certainly is a playful chap when it comes to these creatures, even right down to their looks. These aloof monsters...
- 5/9/2011
- by Jon Peters
- Killer Films
Directed by: André Øvredal
Written by: André Øvredal
Cast: Otto Jespersen, Hans Morten Hansen, Tomas Alf Larsen, Johanna Mørck, Knut Nærum, Robert Stoltenberg, Glenn Erland Tosterud
All governments of the world have secrets.
Such secrets will vary strongly from the fabulously dull to the fantastically strange. How strange? Well, it might be a fancy new organic-based spaceship that's powered on human brains, an ancient arcane device that can be used to summon the great hoary lord of the infernal abyss, or it just may be something like, I don't know, maybe…
Troooooooooooooll!
A small group of students venture out into Western Norway, intent on creating a student film documentary on reported occurrences of bear poaching in the region. The team manages to get on the trail of Hans (Otto Jespersen), who's strange comings and goings has put him under suspicion by the locals of being involved in a recent string of illegal bear killings.
Written by: André Øvredal
Cast: Otto Jespersen, Hans Morten Hansen, Tomas Alf Larsen, Johanna Mørck, Knut Nærum, Robert Stoltenberg, Glenn Erland Tosterud
All governments of the world have secrets.
Such secrets will vary strongly from the fabulously dull to the fantastically strange. How strange? Well, it might be a fancy new organic-based spaceship that's powered on human brains, an ancient arcane device that can be used to summon the great hoary lord of the infernal abyss, or it just may be something like, I don't know, maybe…
Troooooooooooooll!
A small group of students venture out into Western Norway, intent on creating a student film documentary on reported occurrences of bear poaching in the region. The team manages to get on the trail of Hans (Otto Jespersen), who's strange comings and goings has put him under suspicion by the locals of being involved in a recent string of illegal bear killings.
- 5/6/2011
- by Tristan Sinns
- Planet Fury
With all the controversy surrounding Sarah Palin’s usage of the term “Blood Libel” — an unfortunate reference to the mythical practice of Jews taking Christian blood for their religious rituals — I think it’s time we heard from a dissenting opinion: Here’s a clip from an actual movie that aired on Arabic-Lebanese television in 2003 that shows us exactly how Jewish blood libel Really Happens (Spoiler: it really doesn’t.) The following clip is horrifying, but also kiiiind of hilarious in its terrible dramatization and blatant falseness (plus the music is awesome), but also I’m horrible so ignore me. It is also definitely Nsfw: VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhm, ok. A couple disclaimers: 1) This clip was part of a Un Council’s presentation on growing Anti-Semitism in the Arab media, and the full reel is soul-crushingly devastating. I found the dumb blood libel movie...
- 1/13/2011
- by Dan Hopper
- BestWeekEver
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