TrollHunter

André Øvredal’s charming mockumentary following curmudgeonly troll dispatcher Hans (Jespersen) features a great deal of wit, but perhaps not enough bite. Mistaken for a bear poacher and hounded by some film students documenting mysterious attacks, Hans quickly enlightens the kids as to the actual nature of his work and the government cover-up of very real fairytale dangers in the Norwegian woods. Seduced by this journalistic scoop, the filmmakers tag along with their subject as he rids the countryside of these gigantic beasts.

Presenting the hero as a disgruntled civil servant frustrated with bureaucracy and incompetence at the Troll Security Service is a nice touch. The gruff Hans’ deadpan recounting of troll lore to his young charges is also good fun — his career ennui offering a great counterpoint to the students’ hysteria. With superb visual effects (for the budget) and wonderfully absurd atmosphere, it’s a shame there’s no real frights to make this a great comic-horror as opposed to just a solid little oddity. [Chris Fyvie]