My quick rating – 5.6/10. I stumbled onto the first Troll film a few years ago and found it to be one of those fun, guilty pleasures that I could throw on knowing exactly what I’m in for. Troll 2 picks up that same energy, just with a slightly colder climate, slightly bigger stakes, and slightly less finesse. We open with a surprisingly charming animated prologue detailing troll mythology and their eventual demise. Naturally, this bedtime story is being read to a toddler-aged Nora, because nothing tucks a kid in better than a goodnight massacre courtesy of medieval Christians.
From there, we’re whisked off to an arctic research outpost with a name I won’t even attempt to spell. Nora (Ine Marie Wilmann) is living off the grid, still recovering from the chaos of the first film, when Andreas (Kim Falck) pops in with that familiar “Hey, so… something huge and dangerous has been discovered” expression. And yes, we know exactly where this is going. If you’ve seen Troll, the roadmap here will feel more than a little familiar.
At least the scenery keeps things fresh. Oslo once again looks phenomenal, especially if you’re a fan of snow, mountains, and the kind of landscapes that make you wonder why you don’t ski for a living. The ski-resort sequence, minus the giant troll using tourists as trail snacks, made me genuinely jealous. The film then moves to Trondheim, where the team hunts down the grave of Olav, the crusader who originally led the troll-slaughtering campaign. This section actually adds some welcome flavor – a little Indiana Jones-style puzzle-solving, some historical intrigue, and the strongest world-building beat in the movie.
The action scenes mostly deliver as advertised. Helicopter chases, collapsing structures, roaring monsters – you’ll get your money’s worth. The VFX are impressively polished, and there’s no shortage of “yep, that’ll look great on Netflix’s thumbnail” moments. But in between the mayhem, the pacing does sag. The film has a noticeably slower rhythm than the first, and the writing isn’t quite as tight. The performances, too, lack some of the spark that helped elevate the original’s cheesy tone.
Still, director Roar Uthaug knows exactly what kind of movie he’s making. He doesn’t shy away from the inherent cheesiness – in fact, he embraces it. There’s more folklore this time and a deeper look into troll history and their place in ancient society. Visually, it’s a treat. Narratively, it’s predictable. The protagonists often fall into stereotype territory, and you can feel the script stretching to justify the sequel’s existence.
But here’s the thing, as a follow-up popcorn flick? It’s fine. Not better than the first, not worse enough to be offensive, just comfortably in the middle. If you enjoyed Troll, you’ll probably have at least a decent time with Troll 2. If you didn’t… well, this isn’t the movie that’s going to convert you.
