#360: Troll 2

Release Date: October 12th, 1990

Format: Streaming (Tubi)

Written by: Claudio Fragasso (“Drake Floyd”)

Directed by: Claudio Fragasso (“Drake Floyd”)

2 Stars

A fiasco, no doubt, but an endearing fiasco, Troll 2 was rendered in a perfect storm of inexperience, cheapness, and exploitation. It’s a terrible movie, but in the decades since its release it’s become a beloved movie, arguably the “best worst movie ever.”

The story is about the Waits family (father Michael, mother Diane, young son Joshua, and teenage daughter Holly) vacationing in the small town of Nilbog. There they encounter all sorts of local creeps and (literal) goblins who threaten to turn them all into plants and eat them alive. 

Already confused? That’s just part of the Troll 2 experience.

In addition to a nonsensical plot, Troll 2 viewers should also ready themselves for some lovably cheap costuming, utterly bizarre dialogue (the result of amateur American actors taking direction from an all Italian crew), and some wild on-screen performances. The acting here must be seen to be believed. 

It’s awful, Troll 2, but awfully fun as well.