Troll (1986): So Bad It’s... Kinda Good?

Okay, so I just rewatched Troll (1986) and man, what a trip. As a world-builder, I'm always fascinated by the attempt at lore, even if it falls completely flat. In this case, the whole 'Troll turning people into plants' thing is so bizarre, it's almost admirable. Like, where did that come from? Is that standard troll behavior according to… someone's head canon? I'd love to know the thought process behind that creative decision! And don't even get me started on Harry Potter Jr. (Noah Hathaway). Kid's basically doing a pre-Hogwarts audition in that apartment. Seriously, the magical elements are so random and over-the-top. The stop-motion animation is charmingly terrible. I mean, it's definitely not Ray Harryhausen, but the pure commitment to those effects is something you just don't see anymore. It's like they were so determined to create a fantasy world, they just threw everything at the screen and hoped something would stick. It's delightfully chaotic. What really got me thinking, though, is the untapped potential. Imagine a good version of this movie, where the troll mythology is fleshed out, the magical rules make some kind of sense, and the plant people have a more compelling reason for existing. The core concept of a troll changing the environment to its liking, that’s prime world-building material! Someone could make a REALLY awesome, dark fantasy movie with that premise. Think Guillermo del Toro taking on early 80s children's horror. Ultimately, Troll is a flawed gem. I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone, but if you're into cheesy practical effects, ridiculously weird storylines, and a healthy dose of "so bad it's good" cinema, then this one's worth a watch. Let me know what you thought -- am I the only one who sees the potential buried underneath the… troll poop?