The crew avec Mr Troll Hunter
Director: Andre Ovredal
Stars: Glenn Erland Tosterud, Johanna Morck, Knut Naerum, Otto Jespersen, Robert Stoltenberg, Tomas Alf Larsen
Troll Hunter makes a fantastic addition to the ciné-vérité (jittery camera hokery pokery) sub-genre of Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity. The film's strength is its rich, localised mythology which hoodwinks you into (nearly) believing that trolls move silently through the rain-soaked fjords and mountainsides of Norway (actually, not really).
Three young filmmakers trail a local bear poacher (Jesperson) for a college documentary. The poacher, an elusive character, promises to be an interesting interview if pinned down. The tale of his profession, as it transpires, is more remarkable still.
*Spoiler Alert* He hunts trolls! Trolls that can distinguish the blood of Christians. But don't worry: the Government fences them in with electric pylons. Oh? Yes, it's rigid when applying the wonderfully absurd Nordic fictions of Asbjørnsen and Moe. How can the film pass it off with a straight face? The sober and stoic-like conviction of the character of the Hunter (a fantastic Jesperson) helps. It's the knowing wink throughout though; the semi-satirical wink ('we realise our own absurdity') that reinforces the film's likeability.
Verdict: Troll Hunter deserves to be seen for its creative personality, enchanting scenery and beguiling final act.
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