Trolling, Trolling, Trolling

The recommendation for Trollhunter (2010) came from a friend. They thought it was hilarious, but warned us that it is also stupid. Enough said.

It is basically found footage. Three Norwegian college students are making a documentary about bearhunters. They are all complaining about a mysterious hunter - they assume he's a poacher. They start pursuing this hunter, trying to get an interview in the most passive-aggressive way possible. They follow him up into the backcountry. Finally, they follow him into the woods at night until he comes running back yelling, "Troll!". As they scramble to escape, one of the students is bitten. You see, trolls are real.

The hunter isn't a poacher, he's a trollhunter. The government pays him to keep the trolls back in the country, away from civilization. He decides to let the kids in on the secret because he's tired and he doesn't get paid enough.

First off, he douses them in troll stench, a disgusting mixture that will hide the scent of humanity from the trolls. Then they start hunting. They find little trolls and, using ultraviolet flashbulbs to simulate sunlight, turn them into stone. Then they find bigger and bigger trolls. 

There is a lot of driving around in the beautiful, wet, green Norwegian country. It might not advance the plot much, but is very pleasant. The trolls, on the other hand, are very silly looking, with big noses hanging down - like a cartoon caveman. When you see these guys, you know you're in a comedy, even if there are a few scares. 

However, I have to say, it isn't that funny. Mildly amusing, slightly scary, silly. Fun to watch but not that memorable. This might be a classic of the troll genre, but it's not a very big genre.