🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Claudio Fragasso
- Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
- Release year: 1990
- Runtime (length): 1h 35min
- IMDb rating: 3.0/10 (39K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 0%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A family goes on vacation to a town full of vegetarian goblins who want to turn them into plants, but are thwarted by a dead grandpa and a bologna sandwich.
🍿 Troll 2: Detailed Plot Synopsis
The Waits Family Vacation
The Waits family—Michael, Diana, Holly, and young Joshua—plan a vacation to the town of Nilbog as part of a house exchange program. Joshua is warned by the ghost of his Grandpa Seth about the dangers lurking in Nilbog, specifically goblins who turn people into plants for consumption. Ignoring Joshua’s pleas, the family proceeds, unaware of the terrors that await them in the strange town.

Arrival in Nilbog and Goblin Encounters
Upon arriving in Nilbog, the Waits family finds the town strangely deserted and the residents eerily welcoming, constantly offering them green-tinged food. Joshua, guided by Grandpa Seth’s ghostly interventions, becomes increasingly aware of the goblins’ true nature. One notable scene sees Joshua urinating on the family’s dinner to prevent them from eating the poisoned food, leading to the memorable line, ‘You can’t piss on hospitality!’

Elliot and His Friends Meet Their Doom
Holly’s boyfriend, Elliot, and his friends arrive separately, but their encounters with the goblins prove fatal. One friend is lured into a bizarre seduction scene involving corn on the cob and is subsequently drowned in popcorn. Another is transformed into a tree, highlighting the goblins’ grotesque methods of turning humans into vegetables. These scenes showcase the film’s unintentionally comedic and disturbing elements.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Joshua Waits (Michael Paul Stephenson): A young boy who must save his family from plant-eating goblins with the help of his deceased grandfather.
- Michael Waits (George Hardy): Joshua’s father, who is initially oblivious to the danger posed by the inhabitants of Nilbog.
- Diana Waits (Margo Prey): Joshua’s mother, who dismisses her son’s fears and falls victim to the goblins’ poisoned food.
- Grandpa Seth (Robert Ormsby): Joshua’s deceased grandfather who acts as a ghostly guide, warning him about the goblins and assisting in their defeat.
- Creedence Leonore Gielgud (Deborah Reed): The leader of the goblins, who attempts to transform the Waits family into vegetables for consumption.
- Holly Waits (Connie Young): Joshua’s sister whose initial storyline revolves around her boyfriend and his friends before she is swept into the goblin chaos.
- Elliott Cooper (Jason Wright): Holly’s boyfriend who goes to Nilbog with his friends, only to encounter its terrifying inhabitants.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Arnold: “They’re eating her… and then they’re going to eat me… OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!” – Arnold screams this line in terror as he witnesses a woman being transformed into a vegetable and devoured by goblins.
- Joshua: “Nilbog is goblin spelled backwards!” – Joshua dramatically realizes the true nature of the town they are visiting by looking at the town name in a car’s rearview mirror.
- Michael Waits: “You can’t piss on hospitality! I won’t allow it!” – Michael scolds his son Joshua after he pees on the goblin-prepared food to prevent his family from eating it.
- Drugstore Owner: “There’s no coffee here in Nilbog… it’s the devil’s drink.” – The unsettling drugstore owner refuses to serve Elliot’s friend coffee, reflecting the strange and suspicious atmosphere of the town.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $100,000
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: $1,131
💥 Troll 2 Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, where do I even begin? ‘Troll 2’ isn’t just a movie, it’s an *experience*. I remember watching it late one night with friends, and we couldn’t stop laughing. Every scene is hilariously bad, from the goblins in potato sacks to the ‘Stonehenge Magic Stone’. The acting is so over-the-top and the dialogue is so bizarre, it’s pure comedic gold. The dead grandpa’s appearances were always a welcome surprise. Despite being ‘bad’, I love it!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of ‘so bad it’s good’ movies”
- “Viewers who appreciate unintentional comedy”
- “Those interested in cult cinema and filmmaking mishaps”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Mild horror elements”
- “Scenes of implied violence”
- “Disturbing creature effects”
- “Suggestive situations”
Professional Reviews
- Rotten Tomatoes: “Troll 2 isn’t just bad; it’s a transcendent experience in cinematic ineptitude. From the acting to the special effects, it’s a perfect storm of awfulness that has to be seen to be believed, though the less fortunate might prefer to look away.
- IMDB: “This is the holy grail of bad movies. From the laugh-inducing soundtrack to its awful acting, ‘Troll 2’ is a life-changing experience. The special effects are indeed ‘special’ – like a one-legged blind woman with Alzheimer’s.
- Letterboxd: “If you want bad film-making, look no farther! ‘Troll 2’ couldn’t be more laugh inducing. It’s made on such a technically inept level it’s unimaginable.
Audience Reactions
Viewers find the unintentional humor and the sheer absurdity of the plot to be the biggest draw, making it a perfect ‘bad movie’ night staple.: The film’s awful acting, combined with nonsensical plot elements and the low-budget special effects, create a unique viewing experience praised for its comedic value.
Overall Consensus: ‘Troll 2’ is widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made, yet its incompetence has turned it into a cult classic, celebrated for its unintentional humor and sheer ridiculousness.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Originally titled ‘Goblins,’ the film was retitled ‘Troll 2’ for marketing purposes to capitalize on the success of the unrelated 1986 film ‘Troll.'”
- “The director, Claudio Fragasso, had limited English skills and insisted the American cast deliver his dialogue verbatim, resulting in much of the film’s unintentionally humorous delivery.”
- “The movie was filmed in Heber City, Utah, using mostly local residents as actors, many of whom had little to no acting experience.”
- “Despite the title, there are no trolls in the film, only goblins. The creatures are portrayed by actors in low-budget masks and costumes.”
🖥️ How to Watch Troll 2?
While ‘Troll 2’ isn’t readily available on major streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu, you can find it for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video. Check your local listings for availability on smaller streaming services or on-demand cable options. Keep an eye out for special edition Blu-ray releases, often packed with documentaries and behind-the-scenes content for fans.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Troll 2, you might like these similar films:
- Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957): Shares the infamy of being considered one of the worst movies ever made, celebrated for its low-budget production and unintentionally hilarious execution.
- Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966): Another contender for the title of ‘Worst Movie Ever,’ it also features bizarre plot elements, terrible acting, and technical incompetence.
- Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988): Similar low-budget horror comedy with ridiculous monsters and bizarre special effects that offers a cult following.
- The Room (2003): A modern example of a film gaining cult status due to its unintentional humor and bizarre storytelling. It is celebrated for its bad writing and questionable acting, similar to ‘Troll 2’.
🛒 Troll 2 Related Products
- Best Worst Movie: This documentary explores the cult phenomenon of ‘Troll 2’ and its dedicated fanbase, offering an in-depth look at the making of the film and its enduring legacy.
- Troll 2: 30th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray]: Features a new 2K scan from the original camera negative, with hours of new bonus features. A must own for any Goblin fan.
- Double Decker Bologna Sandwich – Troll 2 Movie Prop Replica: Replicated prop of the sandwich used in movie. Is not edible.
- Troll 2 – They’re Eating Her T-Shirt: High-quality t-shirt featuring a popular quote from the movie.
🎧 Soundtrack
Troll 2 features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘Troll 2’ is renowned for its poor acting, nonsensical plot, terrible special effects, and stilted dialogue. It’s often cited as one of the worst movies ever made due to its complete lack of cinematic quality and unintentionally hilarious execution.
Despite the title, there are no trolls in ‘Troll 2′. The antagonists are goblins, which adds to the film’s reputation for absurdity and raises questions about the filmmakers’ intentions and understanding of fantasy creatures.
In ‘Troll 2’, Nilbog is the name of the town where the Waits family goes on vacation. The name is ‘goblin’ spelled backwards, which Joshua discovers through a reflection, revealing the town’s true nature as the kingdom of the goblins.
🔥 Bonus Content
Everything Wrong With Trolls 2: World Tour In 15 Minutes Or Less
Okay, so *Trolls 2* might have slipped under your radar, but CinemaSins is here to point out everything ridiculously bonkers about it! You might be surprised by just how many ‘sins’ this movie commits… It’s a fun watch!
The Best Found Footage Satire You’ve Never Seen
Heard this is one of the most clever ‘found footage’ films out there, satirizing the genre like never before! This video explores why it is so great. If you are a film nerd, then this video is for you!
Everything GREAT About Trolls!
Want to feel good about watching *Trolls*? This video highlights all the awesome things about it! It’s a nice counterpoint to all the negativity floating around out there; makes you think twice!
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