Fantasia 2009 – Troll 2

While waiting in line late last night for one of the most anticipated screenings at Fantasia, I saw a rather old gentleman with a huge grin slowly making his way towards me. He was shaking peoples’ hands and making small talk – I had no idea who it was and before I knew it he was right next to me. He asked if I had seen the movie: “Sure!” I enthusiastically replied, as I had seen Troll 2 during a sleepover at a friend’s house many many moons ago. “That’s great! I’m George, I’m in the movie.” He shook my hand and walked off, excited about meeting the next people in line. It should have hit me right there and then but it didn’t – it wasn’t until he was called up to the stage along with Michael Paul Stephenson to introduce the movie. That crazy arm-waving dentist with the Alabama drawl was THE George Hardy, better known as ‘Farmer Waits’.

Personally, one of the most appealing aspects of a midnight screening is the crowd’s energy. Before this particular screening the atmosphere inside the auditorium was electric as both Hardy and Stephenson briefly introduced the movie to a rabid audience. Hordes of people were yelling and cheering in anticipation of the cult-classic. Even if you had never seen Troll 2, you had heard of its infamous ranking as imdb’s worst movie of all-time or you at least knew it was hailed as one of the worst B-movies. This was (thoroughly) confirmed 95 minutes later.

I’d really enjoy delving into the inner workings of the movie and try to find a way to wrap my head around it but I’d rather not. I don’t think there’s any context in which the words analysis and Troll 2 could go together. The good news for us (because the movie is so hard to find) is that the people who participated in the film understand that audiences today don’t necessarily consider this a “bad” thing; they recognize the inherent comedic value of putting green icing on corn or naming a fictional town Nilbog. What could have been somewhat funny in 1990 is definitely hilarious to crowds nowadays and that’s why it’s the perfect time to take this baby out of the closet, dust it off and show it to the public once more.

I don’t know if I can say anything else about this movie as I seem to have exhausted all possible avenues for further review. Unlike any other B movie I’ve ever seen, Troll 2 can be experienced alone, with friends, sober or not; it doesn’t matter. With a cookie-cutter script, midgets in burlap sacks and frosted corn on the cob, you’re guaranteed to laugh your ass off the entire time.

Troll 2 has been on the festival circuit for a long time now and it normally accompanies Stephenson’s new documentary called Best Worst Movie, which is a look at the phenomenon surrounding the cult-classic. If you’re interested in learning more about the people behind the movie I highly recommend seeing this documentary Monday night at Fantasia at 5.25 pm.

Myles Dolphin