Horror Movies Review

Movie Review: Troll Hunter

Somewhere along its attempt to be both an absurd horror movie and an understated satire, Troll Hunter loses its way. Here is a movie at tug of war with itself - on one level it wants to be scary and create genuine tension; on another, it wants to have a tongue-in-cheek sensibility and mock other movies that embrace the old “found footage” tactic to manipulate viewers. Both aspects work to a degree, but neither generates any real lasting effect.

One of the problems is the filmmakers never seemed fully certain of the kind of movie they wanted to make. Not that a movie can’t be a mix of genres, but it needs to be confident in at least one category so it can carry the others. Scream, for instance, was a horror movie before it was anything else. Horror is what it knew, and with that quality locked down, it could also work as a satire. Troll Hunter teeters back and forth so much between we’re not quite sure how to take it.

The story takes place in Norway and the opening text advises us everything we’re about to see was compiled from found footage discovered in 2008. Three students from Volda College - Thomas (Glenn Erland Tosterud), Johanna (Johanna Mørck) and Kalle (Tomas Alf Larsen) - are making a documentary about an alleged bear poacher, a practice that is highly frowned upon in the area. The locals threaten the unknown man and the students eventually track him down to a trailer park. His name is Hans (Otto Jespersen), but he declines an interview. When the students notice the huge scratch marks on the side of his jeep, they decide to follow him and end up in the woods at night. Far away in the distance, they see flashing lights and Hans running toward them, yelling, “Troll!”





As it turns out, Hans is not a bear poacher but a certified troll hunter and he tells them if they want to come along and see what he does, they must first grease up in troll slime and be non-Christian (since trolls can smell Christianity in the blood). The students agree but remain in disbelief until they see one for themselves in a scene that recalls the first appearance of the Tyrannosaurus Rex in Jurassic Park.

Eventually the students learn Hans works for a secret government organization called the Troll Security Service (TSS), which monitors and controls the troll population, of which there are several different species.

Movie Review: I Love Fright Night with The Last Exorcism

Horror movies with a religious slant are normally too prissy for me but I will make an exception for The Last Exorcism. Having been persuaded by my girlfriend to revisit this spooky movie, I was prepared to deliver a sharp critique. Instead I became hooked by the uncanny ability to push the boundaries. Those people lucky enough to get a ticket will not be exposed to some fake horror. Instead the movie uses dark noise and believable storylines to entrap you in the world of biblical teachings. I thought the priest was particularly convincing with his sort of “gentlemanly” reference to mysterious deeds.

The background and synopsis of the movie

This particular theme is more than a quarter of a century old. In the heydays of “horror” movies as best exemplified by Christopher Lee, “The Last Exorcism” was created in 1973. It has given birth to the modern versions such as The Last Exorcism I. The basic story starts with an actress that is visiting Washington D.C. Her twelve year old daughter Regan begins to undergo worrying physical and emotional changes. A young priest (Father Karras) in Georgetown University comes into the fray as Christian that begins to doubt his faith as a consequence of dealing with a terminally ill mother. Father Merrin is called in to save the possessed girl.

It is interesting to note that the young father who diagnoses the girl is also a psychiatrist. Perhaps they wanted to let us know in subtle terms that this was a mental health issue rather than one which touched on religious themes. Of course Father Merrin has also been traumatized whilst in Iraq and that might explain some of his decisions. I like the way that they leave the end of the story in limbo. You do not really know whether it is a real exorcism or whether this is a mentally disturbed girl.

How would I rate it?

It is not really easy to rate The Last Exorcism I. Although they have used the formula that worked in the 1970s, there are modern references to Iraq. It is a transitional movie and for that reason I would score it 4 points out of 5. I would also like to commend them for moving the story along instead of “filling” the time. You should definitely try The Last Exorcism sometime.

Movie Review: Kidnapped (2011) ( )

The Ape (1940) Review

I'll be revealing my Top 5 horror films later today (see 6-10 now: ). A full review of (Neeson) is due Thursday.

And it probably couldn't hurt for you to read Zombie Master's review of Return of the Living Dead either.

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