By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: André Øvredal
Starring: Glenn Erland Tosterud | Johanna Mørck | Otto Jespersen | Tomas Alf Larsen | Urmila Berg-Domaas
Original language title: Trolljegeren
Country: norway
Year: 2011
Running time: 103
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/
Scot says: “TROLL HUNTER, released in 2010 in Norway but 2011 in the US, represents a fine evolution of the ‘found footage’ fictional narrative style most famously exploited by THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. It’s not a new storytelling technique, of course. CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (1980) is a notorious earlier example, but one can argue even earlier examples dating back as far as the early 1930s.
“TROLL HUNTER tells the story of a university student film crew attempting to document bear poaching in Norway, but who stumble onto a mysterious man, Hans, who claims to be hunting much bigger prey. And hunting not for sport or profit, but in the employ of the Norwegian government. As the story progresses, the filmmakers weave in details from diverse folk tales to realistically build a rationale for a whole order/family/species of creatures never studied in mainstream science. Along the way, the main characters encounter physical danger, issues of religious faith, and ecological moral dilemmas.
“The visual style of the film — exclusively handheld, verite POV — not only helps give weight to an absurd (but fascinating) premise, but also allows for a rich story with minimal special effects. (Though you needn’t worry. When effects *are* used, they are skillfully executed and often jaw-dropping.) The story is peppered with self-aware humorous moments. The filmmakers know full well that we intend to laugh at the Three Billy Goats Gruff moment and accordingly prepare coincidental dramatic turns that don’t diminish the humor, but add a depth that propels the story forward. Some very intriguing character relationships in the film are explored through situation, rather than explanation, such as the unspoken one between Hans and a female, veterinary consultant.
“The film builds from a very low-key, low-pressure mockumentary to a full-on dramatic, action finish so skillfully that I didn’t mind the huge (literally mile-wide) location set at the climax, which normally would have turned me off.
“In the end, I found TROLL HUNTER an enjoyable romp with brains far above any US fantasy action flick. Think, ‘a hybrid of BLAIR WITCH, JURASSIC PARK, and SHANE.’ Or something like that. It won’t change your life or view of the world, but it just might get you to read up on Norwegian folklore. 4 1/2 cats.
“Oh, and the coda with the prime minister — yes, that’s really the prime minister of Norway — was shot specifically for the film.
“And the film is in development for a US remake. Ugh. WHY?!”