‘Troll 2’ Evaluation: Does Netflix’s Monster Film Sequel Reside As much as the Authentic?

Three years in the past to the day, Roar Uthaug’s Norwegian Kaiju-inspired journey movie, Troll, debuted to huge viewing numbers. The movie lapped earlier worldwide releases, with over 44 million equal accomplished views (CVEs) in its first week, earlier than changing into the largest non-English-language Netflix movie of all time, a report it nonetheless holds to this present day.

2022’s Troll was not solely watched by a large viewers, however its vital response was largely optimistic as nicely, with an 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a “inexperienced” mixed-positive rating from Metacritic. I can perceive why. 

The primary Troll movie felt just like the collision of the tone & construction of the blockbuster Legendary monster-verse movies (beginning with Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla in 2014) with the creature designs & mythology of Norwegian movies like 2010’s Troll Hunter. As a recognizable framework with a possible new-to-them storyline, audiences wouldn’t have any hassle clicking and sticking with the unique. Add in a familial legacy of fables & fantasy mixed with typically likeable characters, and chances are you’ll discover a sleeper hit in your arms. 

Three years and a number of American kaiju movies later, Troll 2 will hit Netflix on a Monday (of all days) smack dab in the midst of a Christmas vacation barrage of movies with some fairly lofty expectations to fulfill. Is the curiosity on this burgeoning franchise nonetheless there? Will it’s extra of the identical or a brand new course following some character losses within the first movie? Now that we all know tips on how to cease the trolls, how thrilling or attention-grabbing may a sequel be?

Followers of the unique might be pleased to know that the lead solid of the unique movie is again for extra this time round. Paleontologist-turned-Troll Skilled Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann), Authorities Inside Man Andreas (Kim Falck), & Kaptein-turned-Main Kris Holm (Mads Sjøgård Pettersen) will band again collectively as soon as extra, however they aren’t the welcomed heroes you’ll suppose they might be. 

Withdrawn from the “Troll Fee” and banished from the Palace, Nora has lived in isolation for fairly a while. That’s till Andreas, newly returned to authorities work after publishing his novel, convinces her to see the challenge his group is engaged on: a secret hibernating “Mega-Troll” being studied on because the World Battle II period. Below new challenge chief Marion Rhadani, progress has stalled with the endeavor in jeopardy of being shut down. When Nora will get up shut and private, the possibly harmful troll awakens, breaking freed from its shackles, and bursts out into the countryside. Reuniting with now “Main” Kris and a pregnant Siggy (Karoline Viktoria Sletteng Garvang), the reassembled crew should work with the brand new Prime Minister to seek out this new Troll and cease it from doing any extra hurt. However when the outdated strategies of coping with Trolls appear not sufficient for this Mega-Troll, Nora might have yet one more trick up her sleeve. 

As you’ll be able to see by the plot description, Troll 2 picks the normal path for large monster motion/journey sequels by going larger and bolder with a extra formidable foe let out by government-backed companies. And likewise like many monster films of outdated, the federal government should depend on the assistance of one other monster to save lots of them – a second troll as seen within the trailer and as teased within the mid-credits of the unique movie. 

Whereas this new Troll movie might have comparable beats to its fellow creature sequels and its earlier movie, the primary variations this time round are motives of its key gamers within the wake of the ending in Oslo and the lack of Nora’s father within the first movie. 

The primary movie was rooted in household and the troll tales they held sacred and true. Nora’s father and the legacy he handed on earlier than his dying are the core tenets and teachings that information the crew to victory. Daylight as a weak point, the ties to the Christians who drove them out of their dwelling – these are the outcomes of Nora, her father, and the detailed analysis over their lifetimes. Seeing these trolls as nature itself that deserves compassion and understanding additionally fuels the emotional battle of the primary movie’s conclusion. 

In Troll 2, Nora’s emotions and objections, mixed together with her skill to speak with trolls on some degree, serve to suss out solely that some Trolls solely wish to see the world burn. After communication amongst trolls breaks down, the plot of the movie additionally will get wobbly. Avoiding spoilers, the explanations for locating the important thing to stopping the vengeful troll are largely unexplained and really handy. Whereas I all the time love “Indiana Jones” model discovery, this one I discovered to be a stretch as they knew they needed to be in a sure metropolis, however had no foundation to hunt out one thing that didn’t promise solutions till it did. Did the film additionally reverse a identified Scandinavian people story? Truthfully, I don’t know, nevertheless it certain felt like a slap to the credibility of Nora’s father.

Whereas the plotting might lose factors, the positive aspects from authentic to sequel are its skill to loosen up from its extra critical counterpart. A troll consuming douchebag patrons at a ski resort, a callback to some getting their dwelling destroyed by a troll’s relentless path, instrumentations of the church as weapons, and naturally a brawl amongst trolls themselves – these are all included within the extra playful, extra adventurous follow-up to the extra emotional and contemplative authentic. And perhaps no character embodies the spirit of the change in tone greater than Andreas: a authorities sidekick with a number of persona quirks in Half One turns into totally shaped as an typically quippy, Star Trek referencing, nerd novel penning goof who will get his film hero second when it issues most.

Backside line, if you happen to got here to Troll 2 since you loved the primary on some degree, I can’t think about you received’t discover any charms within the sequel. The chase remains to be on, the gamers are largely the identical, and the stakes rise simply sufficient to play to the top. The one factor you’ll should justify to your self is: Am I up for a Troll 3? If this one does comparable viewing numbers to the unique, chances are you’ll get to reply that quickly sufficient. 

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Watch Troll 2 If You Like

• Troll (2022)
• Godzilla (2014)
• Troll Hunter (2010)
• Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)

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MVP of Troll 2

Kim Falck as Andreas Isaksen

As laid out above, the evolution of Andreas’ character from the unique to the sequel supplies not solely extra enjoyable & persona, but additionally true human stakes that solely a superhero would tackle. His film references and normal goofiness remind us that we’re in an motion film and it’s okay to simply wish to see our gang see a mission by means of. There is only one downside with him being the most effective half … hmmmmmm. 

Whereas the plot might scramble for logical options, Troll 2 largely justifies its existence as a sequel – even when that justification is simply extra enjoyable and extra of the identical items the unique supplied.