Big spectacle, bigger monsters, and an even bigger loss of what made the original special.
The nature of sequels in the streaming era is a double-edged sword. A successful original film often earns a higher budget, expanded world-building, and more narrative freedom. But these same advantages can turn into an algorithm-driven mandate: bigger, faster, louder — even if it comes at the cost of the story’s soul.
When Troll hit Netflix in 2022, it surprised many by embracing a grounded, atmospheric tone rarely found in modern monster films. It wasn’t interested in being a mindless creature feature; instead, it leaned into Norwegian folklore, human perspective, and a reverence for nature that echoed Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla (2014).
With Troll 2, my expectations were conflicted. Part of me wanted to return to this mythical version of Scandinavia. Another part feared Netflix would Hollywood-ify the franchise into another CGI-heavy monster romp.
Unfortunately, the sequel leans more toward the latter.
⭐ What Is Troll 2 About?
Directed again by Roar Uthaug (Tomb Raider), Troll 2 picks up several years after the first film.
Paleontologist Nora Tidemann (Ine Marie Wilmann) has shifted from fighting trolls to studying coexistence between humans and the mythical beings her world now knows are real.
But everything changes when a new, far more aggressive threat awakens deep within the mountains. Nora is forced to reunite with:
- Government adviser Andreas
- Teen researcher Kim
- Soldier C.R. Holm
Together they uncover revelations connected to Olaf II, Norway’s Saint King, and the violent Christianization of the country that sought to erase its pagan past.
This ancient conflict becomes the thematic backbone of the story — and surprisingly, it’s one of the sequel’s strongest elements.
⭐ A Shift in Philosophy — And Not for the Better
It’s impossible to talk about Troll 2 without acknowledging its drastic tonal shift.
Where the first film operated with awe, restraint, and a sense of natural scale, the sequel embraces full-blown Monsterverse spectacle. Instead of atmospheric dread, we get:
- More trolls
- More destruction
- Faster pacing
- Louder visuals
For some viewers, this will be entertaining enough. But by multiplying the creatures and accelerating the action, Troll 2 loses the weight and consequence that defined the original.
The trolls no longer feel like ancient, misunderstood forces of nature.
They feel like video-game bosses.
⭐ The Visuals Lose the Magic of Norway
The original Troll thrived on Norway’s breathtaking natural landscapes — the mist, the cliffs, the forests, the rugged geography that made the movie feel ancient and alive.
Troll 2, however, suffers from what many critics now call the “Netflix look”:
- Flat lighting
- Greyish color grading
- Overly digital backgrounds
- A lack of atmospheric texture
It’s ironic — even tragic — that a film about nature reclaiming its space feels more artificial than ever.
The very soul of the first movie has been polished into something overly clean and synthetic.
⭐ But the Script’s Folklore Themes Still Shine
Despite its aesthetic shortcomings, the script by Espen Aukan adds surprising thematic depth.
The exploration of Norway’s Christianization, and how trolls represent a buried pagan past, gives Troll 2 a deeper emotional identity. The Megatrol’s awakening symbolizes something powerful:
You cannot erase history — no matter how hard you try.
This metaphor elevates the film beyond pure popcorn entertainment, even if the execution isn’t always graceful.
⭐ Nora Remains the Heart of the Story
The cast remains one of the franchise’s strongest assets.
Ine Marie Wilmann continues to anchor the story emotionally. Her evolution from skeptic to protector mirrors the shift in Norway’s relationship with its folklore. Nora’s struggle — balancing scientific curiosity with empathy and moral responsibility — gives the film its most genuine emotional beats.
Her chemistry with Andreas and Holm adds levity and grounding, helping tether the movie to reality when the script starts drifting into blockbuster excess.
⭐ A Tonal Tug-of-War
The film suffers from an identity crisis.
It jumps between:
- Disaster horror
- Spielberg-style adventure
- Action comedy
- Mythic drama
…often within minutes.
Jokes land unevenly. Serious scenes are undercut by sudden tonal shifts. There’s a clear sense of sequelitis, where the film tries to outdo the first movie with more everything — more monsters, more mythology, more destruction — without reconsidering what made the original work.
⭐ Final Verdict — Should You Watch Troll 2?
Troll 2 is not a bad movie. It’s just a movie at war with itself.
It’s bigger but not better, louder but not deeper, more ambitious but less focused. It trades the handmade folklore charm of the first film for polished, scaled-up spectacle.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Fun in parts, thematically interesting, but lacks the emotional weight and natural magic of the original.
If you’re in the mood for a straightforward monster blockbuster, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.
If you wanted the atmospheric wonder of Troll (2022), prepare to be disappointed.
Troll 2 releases on Netflix on December 1.
