The Story of Troll 2
Troll 2 follows a family whose summer vacation takes a sinister turn when they arrive in the quaint town of Nilbog (which, if you're paying attention, is "Goblin" spelled backwards). What seems like an idyllic getaway quickly unravels as the family learns that their hosts aren't what they seem—the town's inhabitants are actually trolls in disguise, and they're not interested in small talk. The trolls have a peculiar diet: they transform humans into plant matter before consuming them, a process that's equal parts absurd and genuinely unsettling. Young Joshua Waits becomes the family's unlikely hero when his deceased grandfather's spirit warns him of the danger, leaving Joshua to convince his skeptical family that the threat is real before it's too late. It's a premise that sounds ridiculous on paper, which is precisely why it works.
Behind the Making of Troll 2
Troll 2 is an Italian-American co-production directed by Claudio Fragasso, who worked under the pseudonym Drake Floyd—a choice that tells you something about how he felt about the finished product. The film was shot on a modest budget with largely unknown American actors alongside Italian crew members, creating a fascinating cultural collision that bleeds through every frame. Michael Stephenson carries the film as Joshua, with George Hardy playing his father and Margo Prey as his mother, while the supporting cast rounds out a family unit that feels genuinely awkward in ways both intentional and otherwise. The production itself was chaotic; the Italian crew didn't speak much English, and the American actors weren't always clear on what Fragasso was trying to accomplish—a disconnect that somehow enhanced the film's weird, dreamlike quality. The movie was released in 1990 to virtually no fanfare and minimal box office returns, but what it lacked in commercial success, it's more than made up for in cult appeal over the past three decades. Movie OTT tracks where independent films like this one find second lives on streaming platforms, often discovering audiences decades after their theatrical runs ended.
What Makes Troll 2 Stand Out
Here's the thing about Troll 2—it's genuinely terrible by conventional critical standards (it sits at a 3.2 rating on IMDb), yet it's impossible to look away. The trolls themselves are laughably unconvincing, designed with a sort of low-budget ingenuity that somehow makes them more memorable than anything a bigger studio could've produced. There's a scene involving a young boy and a plate of food that's been cursed, and the way it plays out is so earnest, so committed to its own logic, that you can't help but respect the audacity. What's striking is that the film doesn't wink at the audience—Fragasso and his cast treat the material with complete sincerity, which is why it works as unintentional comedy. The performances, particularly from Hardy and Young, have this theatrical quality that feels like community-theater Shakespeare filtered through a horror-movie script. Young especially commits to every line reading as if she's performing on Broadway, shouting her dialogue directly into the camera with the intensity of someone warning about an actual goblin invasion. Audience members have noted that you can't look away—it's like watching a train wreck, except you're genuinely curious to see what happens next. The film's earnestness is its greatest strength; it's not trying to be funny, which makes it funnier than anything intentionally comedic could ever be.
Where to Stream Troll 2 Online
Troll 2 has found a robust second life on streaming platforms, which is fitting for a film that was largely ignored during its theatrical release. You can currently watch the film on Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Prime Video, Tubi TV, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, Google Play Movies, and YouTube, among other platforms including Filmin, Kanopy, and Sky Store. The film's availability across so many services speaks to its status as a cult curiosity—it's the kind of title that appeals to horror fans, comedy fans, and anyone interested in the strange history of 1990s independent cinema. If you're looking for current streaming options and want to know exactly where a film is available right now, the Where to Watch widget at the top of this page will show you all active platforms in your region. Movie OTT makes it easy to find where your next midnight-movie discovery is hiding.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Troll 2?
Claudio Fragasso, an Italian director, wrote and directed Troll 2 under the pseudonym Drake Floyd. The film was an Italian-American co-production that brought together an Italian crew with American actors, creating a unique cultural blend that contributed to the film's distinctive tone.
Q: Is Troll 2 a sequel to the original Troll film?
Not really. While it shares the title, Troll 2 isn't a direct sequel to the 1986 film Troll. It's essentially a standalone story that happens to use a similar monster concept, though the execution is entirely different.
Q: Why does the town in Troll 2 have such a strange name?
The town is called Nilbog, which is "Goblin" spelled backwards. It's a clever bit of wordplay that hints at the film's twist—the seemingly innocent town is actually inhabited by supernatural creatures in disguise.
Q: What's the runtime of Troll 2?
The film runs 91 minutes, making it a relatively quick watch despite its sprawling plot and numerous tangential scenes that don't always connect logically.
Q: How has Troll 2 become a cult classic?
The film's earnest commitment to its absurd premise, combined with unconvincing special effects and theatrical performances, has made it a beloved midnight-movie staple. Audiences appreciate its unintentional humor and genuine weirdness, and it's been the subject of a documentary and numerous retrospectives exploring why bad movies sometimes become beloved.
Final Thoughts on Troll 2
Troll 2 isn't a good movie by traditional measures, but that's almost beside the point. What makes it worth watching is its complete commitment to a ridiculous premise, the earnestness of its cast and crew, and the way it's somehow become more entertaining in hindsight than it ever could've been on purpose. It's a film that rewards curiosity and a willingness to embrace weirdness. If you're in the mood for something genuinely strange—something that'll make you question what you're watching while simultaneously unable to stop—Troll 2 delivers. Don't expect scares or coherent plotting. Expect something weirder, stranger, and infinitely more memorable than that.
