Summary

4/5 stars

Not quite Blair Witch meets, I dunno, Labyrinth – a mockumentary that grabs you and holds your interest right up to the twisty and somewhat farcical ending. Joe says check it out.

Review
Presenting itself as the “authentic” found-footage of some Norwegian college students tracking down a suspected bear poacher, this movie works on several levels.

The documentary style. Yes, it’s been done before. In this film, however, the students feel authentic as do the camera angles, lighting and editing. It seems like a “real” documentary.

The troll hunter himself, a grizzled old-timer who laments his job and ultimately rebels against the TSS (Troll Security Service) by allowing the filming of his heretofore clandestine activities.

The trolls – with such bizarre names as Ringlefinch and Jotnar – and their various sizes, shapes, and death peculiarities. The mythos that Hans (the troll hunter) weaves as to how and why trolls turn to stone or explode is particularly interesting.

The landscape. I’ve never been to Norway but the country seems at once beautiful and harsh. Halfway through the film I wasn’t sure if they were using the same road for all the in-car footage traversing Norway – but eventually the repetitive scenery gives way to new vistas.

The special effects in some cases were amazing (the distant shots of the Jotnar for example), but in other cases snot so much. I could do without the “I knew it was coming” troll flatulence bit.

All in all, the acting was quite good, the cinematography well done, and the story compelling.

The formula isn’t new, but the twists are – I am sure someone in the US will eventually want to remake the subtitled Norwegian gem.