Trollhunter (2011)

What It's About: A group of students investigates a series of mysterious bear killings, but learns that there are much more dangerous things going on. They start to follow a mysterious hunter, learning that he is actually a troll hunter.

Review: When I think of trolls, I typically am reminded of the Three Billy Goats Gruff; you know, the weird looking creature living under the bridge who threatens to eat the goats as they pass, but is eventually tricked out of his meal. Trolls definitely have a reputation of being one of the less pretty creatures in mythology, but they usually fall into the category of faeries who like to talk and bargain their way out of anything. Trollhunter knocks all of these usual expectations out of the ballpark, and is a really inventive use of the shaky came trick that's so damned popular right now. 

No! Not more shaky cam!

Following a group of college filmmakers, it starts out as an investigation on a bear poacher, who keeps showing up at absolutely bizarre and inexplicable scenes of dead bears. The bears are usually attributed to having attacked or killed people, but without a permit, what Hans (the assumed poacher) is doing is entirely illegal. But the truth is actually much, much different (and actually kind of funny?). The attacks are actually the work of trolls, believed to be mythical beings who are very much real. And they're brought to life incredibly well through some fantastic looking CGI.

I mean, you can count all the boils...

The first scene where we are introduced to the trolls involves the filmmakers running through the woods - since we are limited to the camera man's eye, we quickly lose track of everyone else in the vicinity, but are given a leg up when the camera man switches over to night vision and we see the troll (a tosserlad, as identified by Hans; there are several species and types of trolls, and we get to see quite a few of them in the flesh) in all of it's absolutely disgusting glory. It's huge, and it's one and only thought is to EAT. Being caught by the troll basically means instant death, probably by getting your head bitten off. But the intrepid filmmakers and their knowledgeable troll guide make it out of their first encounter mostly unscathed. 

But the troll didn't!

Eventually Hans turns rebel and decides to tell the filmmakers everything (hence the reason for the filmmakers having been in the woods in the first place). Apparently there's a section of the government called the TSS (Troll Security Service), who's entire purpose is to hide the existence of trolls from the population. Generally there is only one troll hunter to a section, and Hanz was given the job due to a well done turn of service in the Navy Rangers. And most of the legends about trolls are true - watch the hell out if you're a Christian, because that's the on switch for troll rage spasm. Get within grabbing distance and you are troll chow. Then there's the explanation of why trolls are nocturnal - because their bodies can't process the sunlight, causing them to either explode or turn into stone (and we're treated to both instances!).

It's a messy job but someone has to do it.

Altogether Trollhunter is fantastic for the creation of the creatures it boasts, if nothing else. One scene that was exhibited in the trailer was of a car running underneath the feet of a 200 foot tall troll, a Johtan; I really feel like with something like this would really benefit well from the current 3D craze - and there are several other scenes that showcase other types of trolls, showing the creators going really wild with character design. The plot isn't too different from the many other found footage movies that are out these days, so I wouldn't reccommend it for that or for character development, because half the time they're just running around screaming. But otherwise, definitely give this film a shot just for the creature design. I'm a staunch supporter of practical effects, but this film is a great example of how CGI can be used well.