The Mysterious Monster (Film)

The Troll (original title: Troll); a 2022 Norwegian monster film directed by Roar Uthaug and written by Espen Aukan and Roar Uthaug. The film was released globally on Netflix on December 1, 2022. It centers on the threat posed by a legendary troll that has slept for thousands of years in the mountains of Norway and awakens due to human activity. Recognized as a contemporary example of Norwegian monster cinema, the production blends Scandinavian folklore with action and suspense elements.

The film opens with explosions marking the beginning of a tunnel construction project in Norway’s Dovrfjell mountains. The blasts awaken a giant creature that has slumbered for centuries, triggering widespread destruction in its vicinity. Paleontologist Nora Tidemann, dispatched to investigate the events, argues that the creature is one of the legendary trolls from Norwegian folklore. Initially dismissed as implausible, the monster’s advance and the devastation it causes eventually compel authorities to act.

Building on research conducted by her father, Tobias Tidemann, Nora seeks to uncover the creature’s weaknesses. Working alongside government official Andreas Isaksen and military commander Captain Kris Holm, she discovers a crucial piece of information: trolls are vulnerable to sunlight. Using this knowledge, the team devises a plan to stop the creature. The film unfolds around the troll’s destructive march toward Oslo, the capital of Norway, and the team’s efforts to neutralize the threat.

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Ine Marie Wilmann (Nora Tidemann): The film’s protagonist, a paleontologist who interprets scientific data on trolls and serves as the intellectual leader of the team. She uses knowledge inherited from her father’s research to analyze the nature of the trolls.

Mads Sjøgård Pettersen (Captain Kristoffer 'Kris' Holm): A military commander in the Norwegian armed forces who plays a decisive role in operations aimed at suppressing the threat.

Kim Falck-Jørgensen (Andreas Isaksen): A government official representing the Norwegian state, responsible for coordinating measures against the troll threat.

Gard B. Eidsvold (Tobias Tidemann): Nora’s father and a troll researcher, an academic who was ostracized by society for believing in the existence of trolls years earlier. The research notes he left to his daughter play a pivotal role in resolving the story.

Anneke von der Lippe (Prime Minister): The Prime Minister of Norway, a political authority who oversees decision-making on behalf of the government in response to the extraordinary threat.

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The Troll was produced by Motion Blur Films, based in Oslo. The film’s producers are Espen Horn and Kristian Strand Sinkerud. Torstein Myrhaug served as cinematographer, and the score was composed by Johannes Ringen.^【1】

Filming took place across various regions of Norway, with the Dovrfjell mountain terrain and surrounding natural landscapes serving as key locations that contributed significantly to the film’s atmosphere. At the time of its release, the production was among the most expensive domestic films in Norwegian cinematic history.

The film draws on Scandinavian cultural heritage by centering its narrative on the troll figure from Norwegian folklore. The screenplay aims to bridge the traditional image of trolls in folk tales with the conventions of a modern monster film. Director Roar Uthaug, previously known for international productions such as Tomb Raider (2018), sought to develop a distinctly Norwegian story in this project.^【2】

Upon its release, the film reached a wide audience on digital platforms and achieved recognition at select international award ceremonies. It won the 2022 Reel Music Award for “Best Original Music in a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror Film.” Additionally, it was nominated in the “Outstanding Location Usage in a Contemporary Film” category at the 2023 Location Managers Guild International Awards. These accolades highlight the film’s strengths particularly in music and location design.^【3】