'Troll Hunter': A Wonderfully Unconventional Mockumentary About Clandestine Troll-Hunting in the Norwegian Wilderness

Troll Hunter (Trolljegeren) (2010) is a highly entertaining Norwegian mockumentary starring Otto Jespersen as Hans, a weathered government hunter tasked with tracking trolls across the remote wilderness of Norway. The film follows three student filmmakers investigating a series of suspicious bear killings, only to discover that Hans is not a poacher but rather the lone field operative for a secretive state program charged with monitoring Norway’s hidden troll population.

Initially reluctant to involve the students in his work, Hans gradually allows them to accompany him on nighttime expeditions through the vast Norwegian countryside. The storyline details their immersion into a strange world of folklore and state secrecy, as Hans explains the different breeds of trolls, the danger sunlight poses to trolls and the bureaucratic absurdities surrounding his profession. As their journey grows more dangerous, the film maintains a deft balance between deadpan humor and genuine monster-movie tension, grounding its outlandish premise in the practical realities of a man worn down by years of thankless work.

Written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker André Øvredal (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark), Troll Hunter is a wonderfully unconventional genre film marked by both dry wit and visual imagination. Jespersen is excellent as the weary title character, bringing a sense of resignation and credibility to a role that might have easily lapsed into parody. Shot with handheld immediacy and set against Norway’s striking natural landscapes, the film serves as a clever and enjoyable blend of old-world folklore and modern government satire.

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Watch the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvwEyHeRSvE