‘Best Worst Movie’ tracks the cult phenomenon of ‘Troll 2’
Troll 2 has been christened the worst movie of all time. And although I respectfully disagree (read my review here), there’s no denying that the film is an awful piece of cinema. So awful that it has turned into a cult phenomenon, with midnight screenings across the United States and a dedicated fanbase.
Michael Stephenson, the child actor featured in Troll 2, revisited the seminal film in the documentary Best Worst Movie. Now serving as director, Stephenson travels around the country, attending screenings, festivals and parties all devoted to the horror sequel.
The fandom is quite hilarious. There’s an annual Troll 2 party held in California with spectators acting out scenes from the movie. There are sold-out screenings in New York City with lines wrapped around the block. Everyone wants to see Troll 2 on the big screen.
And although the movie is atrocious (especially in the acting department), one can see the thrill behind revisiting the cinematic dud. Serious lines of dialogue take on a hilarious quality when a crowd of hundreds shouts at the screen. It’s a phenomenon similar to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
If Best Worst Movie simply charted the Troll 2 universe, then it would have been quite limited in its scope. As the movie points out, the fandom only goes so far. But what makes the documentary a surprisingly touching film is its focus on the actors from the 1990 movie and what they are doing now.
George Hardy who played the father in Troll 2 emerges as a main character. He’s a likable neighborhood dentist in Alabama, a man with a dedicated clientele and always a smile on his face. He is genuinely a nice person and loves the fact that his only acting foray has earned cult status. He shows up at the sold-out screenings like a rock star, reenacting scenes from the movie and signing autographs.
The stories of the other actors are a little upsetting. Margo Prey, who plays the mother in Troll 2, is portrayed as a reclusive woman who actually believes that this vilified movie is on par with Humphrey Bogart’s work. It’s a pretty painful scene to watch, but Stephenson and Hardy are gentlemen through and through. They knock on her door, introduce themselves as her fellow actors from two decades before, and ask whether she wants to be included in the Troll 2 hoopla. She respectfully declines and decides to stay at home with her ailing mother.
Another great character is Claudio Fragasso, Troll 2’s director, who still champions the film as a work of biting satire. Similar to Ed Wood, Fragasso refuses to say that Troll 2 is a bad film. His defense is at first funny, especially given the source material, but then it almost becomes respectable. He is an artist (depending on how far you want to stretch that word’s definition) and will not denigrate his work. I actually walked away from Best Worst Movie with a greater respect for Fragasso and his wife, Rossella Drudi, who co-wrote the screenplay.
If you’re looking for a nostalgic trip to the past, try watching Troll, Troll 2 and then Best Worst Movie. It’s history and horror wrapped into one trilogy.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
