‘Troll’ Review: Good Old ‘Man Vs Monster’ Movie

By Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

‘Troll’ is the kind of film that deserved a big screen release for viewers to enjoy its magnanimity. Set against the dreamy Norwegian wild, the 2022 movie has been directed by Roar Uthaug, who has co-written the script with Espen Aukan. The makers mix folklore, fantasy, religion with some Nordic history in this monster flick, which has more heart than expected. At few points it feels like a scathing commentary against the ‘Christianization’ of Scandinavian nations, but for large parts it sticks to ‘man vs nature’ theme.

Plot overview: Amid protests by environmental groups, the Norway government carries on with its plan of blasting through the Dovre mountain to build a railway tunnel. But the construction process wakes up a mythical monster, one that’s supposed to have existed only in fairy tales. Top experts, including paleontologist Nora Tidemann (Ine Marie Wilmann) are roped in to figure out what they are up against and how to stop the gigantic creature before it wreaks havoc across the country.

‘Troll’ is reminiscent of movies like ‘Jurassic Park’, where instead of giant dinosaurs, there’s a mythical ‘Troll’ at large, with its own tragic past and hostile history with humans. As a viewer, you have to let go off logical questions to enjoy what Roar Uthaug and team have to offer. They cleverly keep the CGI to a minimum, building suspense over what the monster looks like, giving scarce glimpses of its actual appearance. So, while the Troll is fascinating, all the human characters are pretty bland and forgettable. But that thankfully doesn’t dilute the entertainment quotient of the film.

From the pristine green mountains of Norway, to the modern man-made buildings of Oslo, the cinematography is a visual delight. It’s the perfect fit for those who love watching humans screaming in terror as a massive monster rips through their streets.

It’s a 7/10 from me. Stream it on Netflix.