It’s ironic that my favourite film of 2010 is about one of the worst films of all time.
There are a range of reasons why Troll 2 is so terrible. If I were to write a list, it would start with the fact that there are no trolls in the film, because Troll 2 was initially known as Goblin, and then had its title changed, even though it had nothing to do with the original Troll. It would either end in reflection of the atrocious monster masks that you’d find in the bargain bin on Halloween, or with this gem of a line delivery:
(You can see the moment where the actor turns to director Claudio Fragasso as if to ask “is this really the read you want?”)
There’s no doubt the film sucks. Not from the critics – those who bothered to see it, at least. Not from its cult of fans, who treasure it as one of those legendary ‘so bad it’s good’ cinematic accomplishments. Not even from the cast of the film.
It’s one of these cast members – Michael Paul Stephenson, who played the kid in the movie – who decided to pick up a camera almost two decades after Troll 2 was produced, and create the documentary Best Worst Movie.
Stephenson journeys to reunite with those involved in the original film, primarily focusing on George Hardy, the dentist from Alabama who played his father in the movie. Hardy had all but forgotten about the experience until patients started to ask whether he’d appeared in a bad horror film they’d seen on television. Soon after, the film was embraced by lovers of D-grade cinema, and Hardy, along with the rest of the actors, found himself being invited to conventions and midnight screenings. He was a star.
The celebrity treatment that Hardy lets go to his head throughout the documentary is one of its most fascinating elements. Best Worst Movie is a fabulous insight into what it means to find your 15 minutes of fame, even if it does spawn from something so poorly made. Hardy goes through highs and lows, and it’s hard not to feel sorry for him, even while the fans chant his name as he walks out for a Q&A after a screening.
There are other profound moments, like when Hardy and Stephenson visit the actress who played the mother to find she has become a recluse, but they are interspersed between moments that show just how chaotic and confusing the production of the film was.
A highlight comes in the form of an interview with Don Packard, who ended up with a role in the film while on day release from a nearby mental institution. “The actor they hired didn’t turn up and they said, ‘OK, you’ve got the job’.” He watches his scene, telling Stephenson “You can see I was crazy”.
Best Worst Movie is the kind of documentary that defines the weird and wonderful world of cinema. It’s a reminder that there’s a special place for the worst films of all time, and it’s not so different from where the best movies reside.
Don’t worry if you haven’t seen Troll 2, especially if you can’t appreciate good bad movies. But don’t miss Best Worst Movie. It really is a treat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tFgZ6DmXmw
You can stream and purchase Best Worst Movie on iTunes, or buy the DVD at Amazon.