Troll 2

1990

Director: Claudio Fragasso (as Drake Floyd)

Genre: Fantasy bad movie

There's very little I could say about this film that hasn't been said before. It's equally hard to review a movie like this without devolving into describing one of the many absurd scenes. 

So now I think its a good time to talk about my feelings on the genre of "good bad movies." And I do consider this to be a genre. This film, as well as The Room, have become the prime examples of this genre, and for good reason.

I think the true discerning of a "good bad" film requires you to look beyond the actual film and check out what happened behind the scenes. 

Good bad films have to come from a place a passion. It has to be something the filmmakers really wanted to make, and it is only through their own incompetence that the film turned out the way it did. In Troll 2, the film crew could not speak english, which led to an extreme disconnect with the actors. Also they were hiring actual mental patients to be extras, and trying to push some kind of bizarre message about eating meat or not eating meat. Who knows.

The true entertainment that comes from watching a good bad movie is not just to laugh at the budgetary limitations of the filmmaker or the poor acting and directing. I believe observing the insane writing, or the strange character choices, or the creative ways they shoot around the budget is where you can have the most fun.

What other film would have a dead grandfather who can stop time and throw lightning bolts? What logical film would have characters preparing to eat food that has obvious green paint smeared on it? Where else would you see a hero defeat the villain by eating a double decker baloney sandwich?

It is ridiculously entertaining to see such insane ideas brought to life. A glimpse into the mind of the creators, unhampered by studio meddling or logical reasoning. 

Watching a good bad movie can make you feel like a therapist, and the movie itself is lying down on your couch. But the movie isn't asking you what's wrong with it. It doesn't even realize its on the couch. The movie thinks it’s in another world as it blurts ideas it believes are great. You may laugh from the misguided ideas, but you will also smile at the passion on display before you. 

This is a film everyone should watch. It can be enjoyed alone or with a group. The first time you watch it, you may be confused and wonder why this is popular. But the second watch will have you laughing your ass off.

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