Troll 2 (1990)
95 min · Horror, Fantasy
An accidental cult classic with the documentary 'Best Worst Movie' chronicling its fandom.
The Bottom Reel's take
Ah, *Troll 2*. The very name conjures images of... well, not trolls, but goblins. And not just any goblins, but vegetarian goblins. This 1990 film aimed for the dizzying heights of horror and fantasy, an ambitious blend designed to thrill and perhaps even chill its audience. Yet, somewhere between its grand intentions and its final cut, a chasm opened, and into it tumbled any semblance of conventional cinematic quality. What we’re left with is a glorious testament to the beautiful distance between what a filmmaker hopes to achieve and the wild, unforgettable magic that sometimes happens instead.
Clocking in at a brisk 95 minutes, *Troll 2* offers an unparalleled masterclass in what happens when genre conventions are less followed and more... interpreted. It’s a horror film that manages to be utterly devoid of scares, and a fantasy that feels less like epic world-building and more like a fever dream. With its infamous status cemented by the very existence of a documentary celebrating its accidental cult classic status, this isn't just a bad movie; it's a phenomenon. Its paltry 6/100 critic score and only slightly more generous 35/100 audience score speak volumes, but they certainly don't tell the full, glorious story of its unbridled charisma.
But here’s the rub: those scores entirely miss the point of *Troll 2*'s enduring appeal. We're not here for a perfectly executed narrative or award-winning performances. We're here for the sheer, unadulterated joy of watching something so spectacularly earnest in its artistic shortcomings that it transcends mere failure. It's the kind of film where every line delivery, every special effect, every baffling plot point becomes a treasure, a moment to be savored and debated. It's the cinematic equivalent of a grand, rickety roller coaster built with the best of intentions, guaranteeing a laugh-out-loud, white-knuckle ride unlike any other.
So, is *Troll 2* "good" in the traditional sense? Absolutely not. Is it "famously bad" and "unforgettably fun"? Without a shadow of a doubt. This isn't a film you watch alone in the dark, hoping to be spooked. This is a film you gather your dearest, most bewildered friends for, armed with plenty of snacks – preferably not made of plant matter, just to be safe – and prepare for an evening of shared disbelief, uproarious laughter, and quotes that will echo in your memory long after the credits roll. Prepare yourselves, because you can’t piss on hospitality.
Synopsis
A family vacationing in Nilbog discovers the town is run by vegetarian goblins.