Spoiler Warning: Troll (2022)
Despite being based on Scandinavian folklore and having a few shortcomings with the script and characters, Netflix's Troll was a fun and engaging movie. The film, directed by Roar Uthaug, delves deeper into Norwegian history and how Trolls were treated in ancient times. Furthermore, the film followed the same trope as King Kong and Godzilla by endearing the Troll to the audience, leaving them emotional at the end.
The film follows Nora Tidemann, a paleontologist and the daughter of Tobias Tidemann, who was shunned by the government after his research on Trolls was found to be erroneous. When a government excavation team bombs the Dovre mountains for research, the ancient Troll awakens and wreaks havoc wherever it goes. As it makes its way to Norway's capital city, Oslo, the government attempts to eradicate it at any cost.
While the film concluded on a strong note, the creators left us hanging by a thread with the post-credit scene, which seems a little illogical. So, here's our take on Troll's ending, post-credits scene, and implications for the sequel.
The Mystery Behind Trolls and Their Existence
The film's success can be largely attributed to the fascinating viewpoint of Trolls in Scandinavian folklore. Tobias Tidemann, who devoted his life to studying Trolls, and his daughter Nora, who believed in Trolls as a child, were introduced early on to give the audience a sense that they were real. Additionally, Troll's introduction, which resembled a moving mountain inflicting its wrath on insignificant humans, was a perfect description of the mythical beast.
As we delve deeper into the story, they bring forth theories related to Trolls on how they can't walk in the sun, and humans used their vulnerability to wipe them out hundreds of years ago. The film then cuts to a scene illustrating why some Trolls can walk in the sun while others cannot. It was initially unclear which was the truth and which was the myth, but the situation was eventually made crystal clear.
How the Troll Was Slain: The Truth Behind the Dramatic Finale
What really kept viewers guessing was how the beast died and why it was so set on getting to Oslo. The film's depiction of history suggests that ancient people slaughtered baby trolls in their lair before using one surviving child to lure the Troll's mother into the mountains. Ultimately, the explosion caused by the excavation team awakened the fabled beast, giving it a reason to return to its lair, where the present-day Royal Palace stands.
In the climactic moments, the beast chases Nora and Andreas as they drive with the ancient Troll's skull, which they then lose on the road, shattering into pieces. They use church bells to lure the enraged Troll as it pursues them. When it arrives at its destination, they use high-intensity lights, which are fatal to trolls, to harm it.
Later, Nora realizes it was wrong to kill the Troll, which is harmless if it returns to the mountains, but the sunlight hits and breaks the Troll into pieces. The ending seemed illogical and unrealistic because it was pitch black during the scene, and the sun suddenly popped up, leaving the audience speechless. At the end of the day, it is a monster to humans, and it only exists in the film to meet an untimely demise.
Troll Post-Credits Explained: What Does the Explosion in the End Mean?
After the heartbreaking conclusion of the Troll's death, some viewers may have wondered if that was the last surviving Troll since its extinction hundreds of years ago. Perhaps, but not necessarily. The first scene of the film has Nora and Tobias climbing a cliff face, where it is revealed that several trolls are hiding within the Dovre mountains.
A massive explosion occurs in the mountain site littered with rock debris as the film transitions to its post-credits scene, and a roar reminiscent of the ancient behemoth seen throughout the film can be heard. The initial explosion woke up another Troll, which could be a sequel film's basis.
The subsequent film might center on the recently awakened Troll, or it might introduce the emergence of the remaining Trolls and plot a revenge theme after they discover the lair hidden beneath the Royal Palace. Also, Tobias Tidemann's research, which the government initially claimed was false due to the Royal Palace's intervention, has yet to be made public, so he can be honored.
Netflix may have some plans for the Troll franchise, even if they seem unlikely at the moment. Despite its flaws (which we've already addressed), the film moves the story forward in an engaging way and offers plenty of food for thought. Hopefully, there will be another installment in the series that focuses on Scandinavian folklore and more accurately portrays how people in this universe dealt with Trolls in ancient Norway.