User reviews

Watching this I thought it's just going to be your average monster action movie... and you know what? It is. So yeah it delivered that big monster itch.

Here's the thing however...is that the human aspect of this movie is not it. They're too campy and not in a good way. Just one dimensional. You got those authority figures who are stupid and one minded. The underdog main character who stomps on authority because they're brave that way who clearly knows more but isn't being listened to...etc. The set-up is just too obvious that any emotional deviation doesn't feel right because it's done in a shallow way.

The Troll had some backstory depth going for it but alas it's put on the backburner because this is ultimately a humans win movie. They wasted that plot and just went with the typical "Monster bad, must kill".

Would rate it 5.5 but rounding it up coz I like their depiction of the Troll. But anyway overall it's a good enough monster flick. The CGI is believable. Action wise, it's not as destructive and packed as like Pacific Rim for example, pretty tame tbh. Good for a weekend watch.

Warning: you will not - repeat, WILL NOT - read a very honest and objective review here. For as long as I can remember I've been obsessed with tales originating from Scandinavian folklore, fairy-tales, and historic sagas, and it's literally since decades that I've been waiting for a film like "Troll". Well, I've been waiting for slightly more than just one decade, more specifically since the release of that other massively entertaining (and even better) "Troll Hunter".

This is the stuff we watch films for, is it not? An ancient and humongous creature, looking & sounding exactly like you have always imagined it from stories and drawings in children's books, exploding - literally - out of a picturesque mountain landscape and promptly pursuing its way to the capital of Oslo (Godzilla-style) and destroying everything on its path! Awoken due to mankind's inability to leave Mother Nature intact and at peace. Artillery cannot harm it. Tanks cannot slow it down. Army helicopters are plucked out of the sky as if they were toys. And, still, the only paleontologist who comes with effective alternative solutions to save the nation gets overruled by obnoxious politicians. Again, ... do you think I'm biased?

Of course, I'm not blind for the script's many defaults. The supportive cast largely exists out of cardboard stereotypes, like the comic-relief prime minister's advisor, the rebellious hacker-secretary, and the GI Joe army hero. The sub plot covering the estranged father-daughter relationship is also quite dire, and I deeply regret the fact writer/director Roar Uthaug didn't have the courage to show more violence and bloodshed. Presumably to safeguard the PG-rating, the Troll even has a conscience and refuses to squish little kids.

But seriously, it doesn't matter all that much, because everything revolves around the massive troll. It looks astonishing! It's a truly magnificent sight how the creature merges with the landscape, how it shrieks in melancholy, or how it rapidly and menacingly approaches from the horizon. Awesome, awesome, awesome!

Another detail that had made "Troll" even more fantastic would have been a soundtrack by the genius folk-metal band Finntroll. Granted, they are Finnish instead of Norwegian, but their lyrics and melodic tunes fit this film perfectly.

Not sure why people are dumping on this film with such vitriol, especially when so many American movies are guilty of similar transgressions. It's a fun monster movie in the Godzilla tradition. People fall all over themselves about the Jurassic Park movies and some others but dump on this? Hmm, I don't get the super-hate.

You can read the synopsis on the site, but it's your basic "Monster awakens from centuries-long sleep because of human 'progress' marching into its environment, monster goes nuts and goes on rampage, etc.".

While the film does borrow heavily from some American movies, there are much worse movies out there (insert any Transformer sequel here) that don't get the reaming. The special effects are decent and having a Troll was a pretty good angle as it's not the most used villain in a movie (at least an American movie). Take it for what it is- a comic book of a movie that's reminiscent of the old Rodan Vs Mothra type of stuff.

How can I be taken seriously when on a day when wannabe movie critics are crazy trying to see the new Sight & Sound's #1 (probably boring stuff), I'm here with my Nachos and my Gin & Tonic watching a giant troll destroying a country? I won't and I don't care.

Troll entertains, has good effects, destruction, lots of clichés, stupid humor, a frenetic pace, mythology, and stupidity in equal measure. A perfect film for anyone who has no pretensions to be the next Roger Ebert and just wants to have a good time.

And because I need some extra characters, I will tell you: this is the European Godzilla!

As a Norwegian I want to apologize for this movie, it is terrible and it does not hold a candle to the sucsefull, witty and charming movie trollhunter, if you are expecting a movie of that caliber, save your time and watch something else.

This movie has managed to use every single hollywood cliche scene from movies like jurrasic park, godzilla, independence day, 2012, you name it, and made it worse. There is not a single original scene in Troll, its all a copy paste from hollywood action movies. On top of that the script is absolutely terrible, the story has nothing going for it, its very predictable and the acting is completely garbage, count youself lucky if you dont speak norwegian, because every single line was delivered like room temperature milk. The only thing this movie has going for it is the CGI of the troll which I thought was pretty good. They also chose to include a tiny bit about the lore and myths around trolls which in my opinion should have been the main focus. All in all I give it 3 stars, might be fun for young children.

I was actually surprised at the level of dislike this movie received when I came to review it online. Okay, it's no masterpiece, but it's great fun with really good special effects and totally enjoyable to watch.

Set in Norway, a team of miners accidentally unleash a giant troll which goes on the rampage through the country. I see a lot of people saying how this is effectively 'Godzilla, but with a troll.' And it is. But is that so bad?

The fact that it's set in Norway with actors who are definitely 'non-Hollywood,' mixed with scenery and settings which are - again - not in America, go a long way to make this movie stand out among other similar entries in the genre.

Again, I reiterate that it's no masterpiece and that it's without flaws. Some of the characters I found a little annoying (even though I was watching the 'English dub' of the film), such as the geeky military girl who just so happens to be able to hack a fighter jet while on mission (and then gets no punishment when caught doing so) and the obligatory high-ranking idiot who gets what's coming to him - but I mainly didn't like him due to how much he seems to look like a Norwegian version of James Corden.

However, those annoying characters aside, the effects really do work. Obviously, a lot of what the film-makers needed to create were done with computers and I've seen plenty of recent blockbusters with much bigger budgets look much worse than this (what's that third 'Ant-man' film again?). I thought the troll itself was really well done and the CGI used was integrated well.

Overall, don't go expecting a classic, but there's certainly enough fun here for you to enjoy if you need your 'monster munching' fix and can find this on a streaming service.

There's a being hidden deep within the rocks, imprisoned in a craggy granite box, but progress has awakened, now the land is quaked and shaken, leaving everyone who sees a bit flummoxed. Not to worry, just keep calm and carry on, where there's danger we have guns and tanks and bombs, blow this unknown thing to bits, with some well aimed direct hits, then in no time, this fiend will be all gone. Alas persistence seems to be one of his keys, as the missiles fail to bring him to his knees, we shall strike a stronger blow, against this ogre of a foe, dispatch the nukes, and he'll be cast into the breeze.

A thoroughly enjoyable tale, reflects accurately the response of many when presented with difference and diversity, but also those who recognise its wonders.

I went into "Troll" expecting it to be as good and catching as "Troll Hunters" which was also a norwegian film but instead... and I hate to say this, but I found myself quite bored. This was not at all as mysterious and catching as "Troll Hunters" was which I didn't want to end but "Troll" I just wanted to end quicker.

Now, don't get me wrong, the troll was well-made and all, it actually surprised me but as for story and the characters go... This just fell flat honestly. I was pretty excited to watch this too, so I am disappointed it fell so flat. Also it focused more on the humans than it did on the Troll and characters acted so corny I wanted to rip my eyes out, I mean God sometimes they were so cringe. Sorry, but this was very disappointing and gets 4 stars from me and that's just because I liked the scenes the troll was in. (On a sidenote... The Troll could've been more ferocious, but that's just a personal taste)

More than most movies these days, this was entertaining. Fantasy for sure; but it was fun. With the exception of seemingly mandatory zingers aimed at Chriatianity, it avoided the strong Hollywood formats to bash western civilization in general.

Special effects were good and acting was of high quality. Story was was thought out, though there was some canned aspects to it; I.e., reactionary incompetent government officials who want to shoot first, as well as the sacrificial madman as the requiaite sole person who was right....though perersecured, maltreated, and ostracized.

Appreciated the periodic humor as well. References to insider hacking was out there a bit; but enjoyed the Star Trek jobs.

Look forward to next one in the series.

IN A NUTSHELL: Deep inside the mountain of Dovre, Norway, something gigantic awakens after being trapped for a thousand years. Destroying everything in its path, the creature is fast approaching the capital of Norway, with city-dweller struggling to stop something they thought existed only in Norwegian folklore.

The adventure drama was written and directed by Roar Uthaug with writing help from Espen Aukan.

THINGS I LIKED: Netflix does a great job of exposing audiences to work created by directors and actors from around the world. I love that.

It's really fun to learn Norwegian lore about trolls.

For fans of the famous "Wilhelm Scream", you'll get a kick out of hearing it at the 47:13 mark.

Most Americans won't recognize any of these actors. I'm always happy to discover new actors around the globe.

Some of the special effects are pretty good.

It's really fun to "travel" to Norway and see the beautiful countryside. I would love to have seen even more shots of the gorgeous fjords and landscapes.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: I would have liked to see more trolls than just one.

Some of the plot points are pretty weak.

The dialogue is paper-thin and uninspired.

The father/daughter relationship adds an emotional level to the story, yet most viewers are saying they just wanted more action with the troll.

You can definitely see their attempt to include elements that make Hollywood monster movies so successful. Sometimes it works here, sometimes it doesn't.

I would love to have seen a scene that featured the rock climbers seeing the face of the troll, like it is featured on the Netflix ad.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: The movie is very family-friendly because the main troll isn't super scary.

The fighting is bloodless.

!

This movie is a hodgepodge of a million movies mashed into one.

But none of it was good. It's the story about a woman who's not into cryptids, but somehow she's an expert on a topic the military needs and it doesn't make any sense. She brings in her dad who is an expert, but then breaks his balls about not using the word troll when he clearly is the only person who knows what's up.

Then it's a movie about humans bullying a creature that is just trying to figure out why it's awake in a time not of it's own.

It's a well shot movie with great visuals, but the story is so dumb it isn't worth the time.

Don't sit down to watch this expecting depth, novelty or innovation. What you will get, though, is a fun way to pass a rainy Saturday afternoon.

The effects are good and carry the story well. The troll is very well crafted and manages to out-act many of the human performers. Managing to pull off a huge troll without making it look absurd was a pretty impressive piece of animation. Comes near to the pathos of the original King Kong.

I like that it doesn't take itself too seriously and manages to do it without needing to go down the path of snarky wisecracking so beloved of Hollywood monster and superhero films. Nothing wrong with that in it's place but it's nice to see that the levity can be achieved in other ways.

Yes, it has more cracks in its plot than the troll has in its skin. No, it won't make your top ten of all time. You should give it a try, though. It's good fun.

A very enjoyable film.

Yes, it was a bit daft but so what.

Great effects. Canny acting and nothing over the top.

The usual "jaws" bloke in charge gets his usual and deserved punch in the face.

Norway have a winner here. I never knew trolls were from there. I just thought they were from the internet.

Kids can watch this as well. No blood and stuff, despite people getting stamped on.

The troll did seem like a canny bloke. Mind you I wouldn't want to be in his way if he sneezed.

I reckon Troll 2 should see him talk to the lass who was the hero.

If I lived in or around Oslo I might move away in case his mates wake up.

A good film.

So in movies like this, I don't expect the Godfather.... but I do expect something. I can accept the premise that trolls have been sleeping underground etc etc. But it is so dumb. You literally have people staring at the troll, you have a person say hey that looks like a troll, then 8 people in the movie go you're crazy, that's not a troll. So what is it? Let's discuss what the troll in front of us is? Does anyone know what kinda troll that troll thing might be. But don't call it a troll. It's like how in every zombie movies the people in the movie live in an alternate reality where they've never heard of zombies before.

Oh we're facing a 100 foot tall giant made of rock... let's attack the obviously armored creature with 5.56 Nato rounds.... that'll do the trick. Oh he destroyed all of us.... oh... I have ammo left and the creature has calmed down... let me shoot at it again! Ooops I'm dead.

This reviewer is always delighted to check the film output from Northern Europe, because you never know what to expect, and the surprise factor is always to the upside -- check out, for example, the Finnish X-mas film from 2010, RARE EXPORTS, affectionately known as the "anti-Santa" movie. TROLL 2022 follows a proven and reliable arc remarkably similar to Roland Emmerich's 1998 production of Godzilla which, in turn, is itself faithful to the standard "monster" formula from the 1950's -- monster appears, monster creates havoc, hero has to destroy monster. Tried and true. Competently done. Empathetic leads you can relate to. What makes this story especially interesting (and this is not in TROLL's PR package) is that there are a number of respected archeologists (including for example Michael Tellinger, who has single-handedly rewritten the history of southern Africa) who believe there is some degree of truth in the "petrification" myth, and have extensive documentation to back up their claims. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

The story is about a paleontologist, who happens to be the daughter of a folklorist, that is called in as a scientific consultant when a large "unknown" creature emerges from recent quarry rock blasting site inside a mountain. With a strange groaning being heard and earth shaking footsteps, it is leaving a trail of devastation in it's wake. Is it foolish to believe this could be a monster from childhood fairy tales? Could the fairy tales have been based on truths? How will they handle such an overwhelming threat?

I personally enjoyed this and as I stated, it felt very much like I was watching a Norwegian version of Godzilla or King Kong. It was fun. There was some action. The story was decently constructed and the actors did a good job. It's not a masterpiece but it was an entertaining watch and deserves a solid recommendation.

Firstly it's refreshing to see a movie without a huge bucketload of dull CGI. The plot is solid. The acting is good. Not over-acted. Limited sets are used well. The military is just about convincing with a limited budget which this movie would have had.

There's some great slapstick comedy. It's got some serious points. The Troll is trying to venture home to his layer. Unfortunately there's a big twist and the Government doesn't understand his intentions.

The log cabin scene was great. It's got classic Norse mythology. It's not as bad as people are making it out to be. There's a lot of instant cinema now and it's easy to scorn films.

Please IMDB do something about the bots. I don't know how this movie is 100% on Rotten Tomatoes yet scolded on here (since I referenced both before i decided to watch it).

Troll Life.

This movie is a shameful sign of the times. Use a valuable folktale - the heart of a nations soul if you will - and misuse it for an unbalanced script full of self-contradictory nonsense. Produce with a minimal of costs a B-movie with no message at all and dump it on the market.

What you get is a metaphor for the times we live in. What could have been an exposé of a nation's soul is now its ultimate mockery Hopefully the person who initiated this dump, finds his way to what he so transparently copied: the Hollywoods B-movie market of sad, sad intentions.

Let's wat for a filmmaker of integrity and a healthy connection to the past who produces a worthy story about this beautiful folktale.

This film was very beautifully shot with excellent cinematography and stunning visual effects. It's a cross between Jack and the Beanstalk meets King Kong/Godzilla - with a Norwegian fable coming to life as a result of these stories mended together. The casting and performances were spot-on, with some funny dialogue thrown in for comic relief. Although cliched with every huge-monster Hollywood blockbuster film, it still offers an effective and family-friendly monster movie in a Nordic backdrop. The 101 min runtime flew by with great pacing, and the score complimented the film perfectly. It's a fun and entertaining one-time watch.

As "Troll" (2022 release from Norway; 102 min) opens, we are in Norway's amazing looking Troll Peaks as a father and his young daughter Nora are hiking and telling folklore stories. We then go to "Twenty Years Later", and Nora, now in her early 30s, digs up dinosaur fossils. A weird event takes place in a Dovre mountain construction site, and Nora is called in to investigate... At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie. Bottom line: the movie just flew by in no time. I had no business enjoying this as much as I did, but that is exactly what happened.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from Norwegian director. Roar Uthaug (2018's "Tomb Raider"). It's non long before it becomes clear that this is Norway's version of Japan's Godzilla or the US' King Kong movie. What is surprising is how well this movie is made. This feels every much like the big budget Hollywood movie except of course this was made in Norway (population: 5 million). It blows the mind. The last 45 minutes provides non-stop action (check out the Lillehamer Events Park sequence!). I was not familiar with any of the cast, but they did quite well. And of course Norway's beautiful outdoors also plays a part in it all.

I have no idea how well "Troll" did at the box office in Europe. Here in the US it skipped US theaters altogether, which is a bit surprising as this is the type of film that beg to be seen on the big screen. It premiered on Netflix last week, and I caught it just last night. If you are in the mood for mindless entertainment with a surprising Norwegian twist, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.