Troll Hunter Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of the Blu-ray release of "Troll Hunter" features a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, and it perfectly complements the film's found-footage style. Shot to resemble footage captured by college students on prosumer digital cameras in remote areas, the Blu-ray transfer remains faithful to this intent. Nighttime scenes exhibit substantial noise levels, with blacks tending to crush and sharpness suffering significantly, but this gritty look aligns with the gimmick of the narrative. Conversely, daytime and brightly lit interior scenes perform exceptionally well, with nearly no noise, sharp details in foreground objects, and pleasing, realistic color saturation that highlights the Norwegian countryside.

The color palette during daylight sequences shows a broad range of hues, from the bright greens and yellows of Norway's flora to the more subtle browns, providing a visually engaging experience. These scenes reveal solid edge detail and fine textures, such as raindrops on windshields. However, during the numerous nighttime troll hunts, essential visual attributes like sharpness and depth diminish considerably, and noise spikes to significant levels. The activation of night-vision further degrades image quality, presenting a green-tinted, highly noisy picture. Despite these drawbacks in low-light conditions, the image quality holds up better than many other found-footage movies, maintaining coherence even during frantic chase scenes.

The Blu-ray edition undoubtedly surpasses its DVD counterpart across the board. The primary strengths of this transfer lie in the accurate portrayal of the intended aesthetic and the superior handling of motion-related artifacts. Overall, while the video quality fluctuates between impressive clarity and intentionally degraded grit, it effectively contributes to the immersive found-footage experience that "Troll Hunter" aims to achieve.

The Norwegian DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track of "Troll Hunter" impressively surpasses expectations, despite its found footage aesthetic suggesting otherwise. Initially, the audio appears to reflect the limitations of being captured by a single sound engineer with a shotgun mic or the camera's built-in microphone. However, the sound design creatively abandons strict realism, significantly enhancing the film's immersive quality. The early portion of the film is relatively quiet and dialogue-heavy, but transitions into a dynamic soundscape as the action intensifies. The rear channels are effectively utilized during chase, fight, and hide sequences, delivering immersive troll grunts and breathing sounds, underbrush crackling, and ambiance that encircles the viewer.

The dynamic range of the audio is noteworthy, subtly capturing outdoor ambiance and vehicle engines in quieter scenes, and escalating to robust, rumbling troll sounds enhanced by the subwoofer. Trolls' thunderous footsteps and the destruction they cause reverberate powerfully, contributing to the immersive experience. Dialog clarity remains high throughout most of the film, although it occasionally gets muffled during chaotic scenes involving trolls, running, and whispering. Optional subtitles in various formats, including English SDH and Spanish, ensure accessibility. Though there's an English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio dub available, the original Norwegian track remains superior, preserving the film's energy and authenticity.

The Blu-ray extras for "Troll Hunter" present a comprehensive and detailed behind-the-scenes look at the film's production and special effects. With insightful deleted and extended scenes, viewers can explore why certain sequences were trimmed or excluded. The visual effects breakdowns provide a fascinating glimpse into the CGI work that brought the trolls to life, and the behind-the-scenes footage offers an authentic taste of the shoot’s atmosphere. Although some features, such as the improv and bloopers, may not add substantial value, others like the HDNet promo provide additional context through brief yet poignant interviews and clips. The inclusion of photo galleries showcasing troll sketches and habitats is a unique touch, adding depth to the narrative universe.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: Five excised scenes that elaborate on various elements.
• Improv and Bloopers: Short improvised scenes and a blooper reel.
• Extended Scenes: Three sequences in full length.
• Visual Effects: Breakdowns of CGI shots, categorized by troll type.
• Behind the Scenes: A collection of on-set clips highlighting production moments.
• Photo Galleries: Two self-playing galleries of troll sketches and habitats.
• HDNet: A Look at The Troll Hunter: Promo with film overview, clips, and interviews.
• Also From Magnolia Home Entertainment Blu-ray: Access to initial trailers.

"Troll Hunter," directed by André Øvredal, emerges as an intriguing addition to the found-footage genre, merging elements of horror, comedy, and Norwegian folklore into a captivating mockumentary. The film's premise is established through an opening title card referencing mysterious footage sent to Filmkameratene AS, suggesting that the ensuing events purportedly captured real supernatural occurrences. This narrative setup introduces the primary characters: a group of college students—reporter Thomas (Glenn Erland Tosterud), sound engineer Johanna (Johanna Mørck), and cameraman Kalle (Tomas Alf Larsen). Their initial mission to document bear poaching evolves unexpectedly when they encounter Hans (Otto Jespersen), a rugged and seasoned troll hunter working for the secretive Troll Security Service (TSS).

The movie skillfully balances dry humor with moments of genuine tension. Jespersen delivers a standout performance as Hans, a character reminiscent of Quint from "Jaws," whose deadpan delivery and nuanced expressions add layers to the film’s comedic undertones. While Øvredal navigates a thin line between satire and suspense, the plot occasionally falters, hampered by exposition-heavy scenes detailing troll lore and repetitive sequences that slow the pacing. Nevertheless, these narrative choices contribute to an immersive world-building experience where trolls are not merely mythical entities but are represented with semi-scientific explanations and vivid characterization. This imaginative take on folklore breathes life into Norse myths, featuring trolls with distinctive traits such as the Ringlefinch and the phallic-nosed Mountain Kings.

Visually, "Troll Hunter" triumphs in depicting its monstrous subjects through commendable CGI, although the initial troll encounter borders on the comically puppet-like. Subsequent scenes compensate with more menacing designs that integrate smoothly with live-action footage, ensuring viewers remain engaged. The film's cinematography also deserves praise, especially in showcasing the striking Norwegian landscape, though some may find the handheld camera technique disorienting during high-action sequences. Despite its narrative hiccups and pacing issues, "Troll Hunter" offers a compelling watch—blending myth, humor, and chills in a uniquely Scandinavian package.

'Troll Hunter' stands as a noteworthy addition to the found footage subgenre, distinctively leveraging Norse folklore to craft an engaging narrative. While this subgenre often feels overwhelmed with clichés, 'Troll Hunter' manages to inject fresh creativity and charm. The film's strength lies predominantly in its innovative approach to Scandinavian mythology, which remains relatively untapped in mainstream cinema. As anticipated from Magnolia, the Blu-ray presentation is solid, with both audio and visual quality meeting high standards.

That being said, the film does have its shortcomings. The pacing can be uneven, with non-troll scenes occasionally dragging and potentially prompting viewers to fast-forward. However, the creatively executed troll sequences make these lulls forgivable. The Blu-ray edition's bonus features are a mixed bag; while they add some value, an expanded focus on the director and FX team would have been beneficial for those seeking deeper insights into the film’s conception and execution.

In conclusion, 'Troll Hunter' is a worthwhile watch, particularly for fans of Norse folklore and inventive storytelling. Despite some pacing issues, the film’s unique subject matter and strong technical presentation on Blu-ray make it a recommended rental.