Troll/Troll 2 [DVD]

Two great movies finally packaged together.

Troll: I first saw this when I was about eleven years old and I loved it. So when I saw it (10 years later) for sale on Amazon I had to buy it. Not sure whether i'd still find it as entertaining and creepy, I sat down to watch it, somewhat apprehensively. Anxious that my fond, nostalgic memories of it would be lost if it wasn't as good. I needn't have worried, within minutes I was glued to the screen, back in the world of the Trolls where I had been a decade before. It's a classic fantasy, with an inkling of horror. It has fantastic characters and make-up, with an inventive and magical story. If you like films such as Labyrinth, Dark Crystal, Legend or willow with a little bit of Critters thrown in, then you will love this. It will especially appeal to younger teenagers, but I think most ages who appreciate the genre will enjoy it.

Troll 2: This doesn't have quite the same charm to it as its predecessor. Whereas Troll was Primarily fantasy, Troll 2 goes towards the Horror path. It is still a very good movie which is worthy of being made unlike many sequels. However, if you loved Troll, you may be slightly disappointed with the change of styles. It is still good fun, but there is just a bit more malice and intent in this sequel. Whereas, the previous was suitable for a slightly younger audience this one isn't. It could almost be a Troma movie with the excessive usage of green gunk. It is also a bit reminiscent of Swamp Thing style movies: people turning into plants. It is original and it is fun and the fact that you are even looking at this page means that you are obviously the type of person who enjoys this type of film, so all I can say is buy it.

Update November 2009: Troll 2 has become recognised as the worst horror movie ever made and this has led to it gaining cult status. This is a good thing, because now a documentary has been made: The Best Worst Movie. This is a feature length documentary which is going to explore the Troll 2 phenomenon through the story of the cast of characters that took part in its creation and why it is celebrated by fans worldwide. It definitely is not the worst horror movie ever made but I guess I can concede that it might just be the most ridiculous!

There are good films. There are bad films. There are awful films. And then there's Troll 2. The quality of Troll 2 transcends the good-bad spectrum - the film is completely indescribable. I mean, how can you decide whether movie where the villains are vegetarian goblins trying to turn people into plants is good or bad?

The "plot" - as much as it could be called one - follows the Waits family: bratty squeaky-voiced Joshua, stoner 80s girl Holly, nice-but-dim father Michael and the confused mother Diana, as they holiday in the sleepy desert town of Nilbog (read it backwards). Unfortunately, the townspeople are goblins in disguise, and if the family eats any food, they'll be transformed into green slime!

Along the way, they're aided and hindered by Joshua's grandfather, Grandpa Seth - who's dead -, Holly's sexually-confused boyfriend Elliot, his equally sexually-confused (and -frustrated) "boys", and Creedence Leonore Gieulgud, a druidess who controls the goblins with the Magic Stone of Stonehenge.

The film is laughably bad, it actually becomes an excellent comedy - probably better than most intentional ones. And here's the kicker. There are no trolls in this film. Not one. In fact, it has NOTHING to do with Troll at all.

Troll itself is not a bad film. Not a good one either, but it has a catchy tune and a kid wizard called Harry Potter. But really, Troll 2 is the standout film on this DVD.

Troll was a decent enough film, I would say it falls more into the fantasy genre rather than horror. I don't think there's really enough action to keep it interesting but it is watchable. Troll 2 however is probably one of the most singularly unique films ever. Definitely a 'so bad it's good' film. Despite the low budget, questionable acting, bizarre plot and the fact that there aren't actually any trolls to be seen (they're goblins) what you've got here is pure entertainment. The actress who played the goblin queen (wonderfully named Creedence Leonore Gielgud)seems to be the only one in on the joke, with a fantastically over-the-top performance, the strange dialogue seems to work for her character, unfortunately not for the others, resulting in (unintentionally) humourous viewing. If you like cult films or are curious as to what qualifies a film as officially one of the worst ever made then pay a visit to Nilbog, if you dare... Also, watch Best Worst Movie, a documentary made by the actor who played Joshua, for some insight into the making of Troll 2.