Troll Hunter

Three Norwegian students, Hans, Thomas, and Johanna, are making a field project after a string of mysterious bear killings. They trail odd clues into remote woods and team up with a grizzled hunter who seems to know more than he shares. Their documentary style footage follows him through forests and night patrols as strange clues mount and the danger grows personal. It becomes clear that the killings link to a hidden world of beings that defy ordinary explanation. With each encounter, the trio must decide how far they will go for truth, even as that truth tests their friendship and their nerves.

Directed by André Øvredal, Trollhunter is his feature debut and an original screenplay. It emerged from Norway’s vibrant indie scene and later reached international audiences through festival play and an IFC Midnight release.

Box office world wide reached $4,159,678 against a modest production budget of about $3.5 million, signaling a solid return for a niche Norwegian horror that found audiences beyond its borders.

Its faux documentary approach and practical effects helped boost found footage horror beyond major markets, drawing attention to Nordic genre cinema. The film left a mark in festival circuits and influenced later folk horror efforts that blend humor with dread.

Critics generally praised the atmosphere, tension, and performances, while some noted pacing as a flaw. The movie explores curiosity and fear, the clash between myths and science, and how friendship endures under pressure.