Troll 2 review: A predictable kaiju drama with echoes of Kong, Godzilla and Transformers
Troll 2, the sequel to the 2022 Netflix film Troll about mountain-sized mythological creatures made of earth and stones, is another kaiju vs. kaiju action entertainer that’s all about big conflicts and nothing else.
An action-adventure film in which massive monster-like creatures take on each other in a stunning battle is one of the most entertaining genres ever – that is, if done right. King Kong, Godzilla, Optimus Prime, and his friend Bumblebee would certainly nod to this statement, but would they welcome the Norwegian Trolls into their big club? Let’s find out!
Netflix’s Trolls 2, billed as the biggest film production ever in the Nordic countries, begins with little Nora telling her father Tobias Tiedemann the story of the ancient King Olaf the Holy and his massacre of the Trolls, before her mother puts her to sleep singing the Trolls’ song. From there, we move to the present, which is set a few years after the events of the first film, in which Nora Tideman lives in her father’s cabin, reflecting on his obsession with trolls.
Andreas Isaksen seeks him out to show what he has been working on with his team for the past two years, which turns out to be an experiment on another troll that has been kept secret from the public. Before you know it, things go south and we have a kaiju – sorry, a troll – wreaking havoc and snacking on humans enjoying Norway’s nightlife, before moving on to quench his thirst for revenge against Olaf the Holy.
Can Nora and her gang succeed in stopping the troll once again? This troll seems stronger; Will the same solution as in the first part be enough to handle it? What other secrets will be revealed in their quest to stop the troll? Will the entire team come out of the war alive once again? Shallow answers to these questions, along with stereotypical monster-movie moments, make up the story of this sequel.
The plot of Troll 2 is as stereotypical as any monster or kaiju movie, and the makers are fully aware of it. The sequel also introduces the “Mega-Troll”, an obvious nod to Megatron from Transformers. But self-awareness alone is not enough. Without adding anything new to stand out, Troll 2 just ends up being mildly entertaining.
Other references are equally clear. Looking for answers straight from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and a big kaiju conflict mirroring Godzilla vs. Kong are just the most notable examples. With a few callbacks to the first film and a script with almost identical beats, the sequel feels weaker than the original.
Director Roar Uthaug, who also directed the first film, returns for the sequel. While the overall story remains weak – including its major emotional beats – some moments are executed with surprising effect. In fact, it’s these quiet, emotional pulls that work harder to keep the audience engaged than the big, expected monstrous showdown.
However, the big confrontation proved to be the film’s biggest disappointment. In a fight that lasts two rounds (like Godzilla vs. Kong), the way the first face-off ends is downright disappointing. The climactic fight lasts at least a few minutes, but it quickly turns into a fierce confrontation. And when the kaiju-versus-kaiju battles are the film’s biggest USP, it’s hard to avoid such stumbles.
The acting of the lead actors of the film is once again commendable. With most of the main actors returning – including Mary Wilman, Kim S. Falk-Jurgensen and Mads Sjord Pettersson – along with the role of a Persian scientist played by Sarah Khorrami, everyone understands their roles well and act accordingly. Kim S. Falk-Jørgensen and Mads Sjoerd Pettersson particularly stand out, perhaps because their characters are given the best moments in the film.
Like the first film, Troll 2 also retains the same essence in its English dubbing. While it is always recommended to watch a movie in its original language, for those who prefer to watch it in a more familiar language, the English dub does a good job and conveys the emotions effectively.
Troll 2 may aim for massiveness, but it never makes the impact its premise promised. The emotional beats feel superficial, the pacing is uneven, and even the much-hyped kaiju skirmishes fail to generate any real tension or excitement. While the visuals have their moments and the continuity of the first film will please existing fans, the sequel ultimately lacks the punch needed to justify its return. Perhaps their entry into the Big-Beings Club will be put on hold for a while, until the return of the Trolls in the future.