In this section of the Colossus Movie Guide for Troll, we will discuss the meaning behind the movie’s title. 

Why is the movie called Troll?

Monster films have a long history of the creature itself being the title. Godzilla, King Kong, Gamera. It dates all the way back to the origins of gothic literature. Novels such as Frankenstein* (1818)  and Dracula (1897) were the byproducts of their predecessors The Monk (1796), The Italian (1797), and “The Vampyre” (1819). Of course you have some slant versions. These are a few recent monster movies with a different style of name: The Cave, Nope, A Quiet Place, Attack the Block, Pacific Rim. 

But Troll went with the classic. And the fact the word itself comes from Nordic folklore, it announces the film as having Nordic roots. Since it was entirely filmed in Norway and has a primarily Norwegian cast, that cultural element is important. 

Then in the film, the Troll King is tied to ideas of faith, loss, and communication. So while there’s not a deep thematic meaning to the title or the character in the same way as, say, the original Godzilla. There’s a bit of something. 

*Regarding Frankenstein. The “monster” never had a name. It’s just known as “Frankenstein’s monster” and over the centuries people started to refer to it as Frankenstein. But the creator, Doctor Victor Frankenstein, is often argued to be the true monster of the tale. Which is why the title is his name. So my point about monster names as the title still stands. 

What are your thoughts?

Is there more information about the title that you think should be part of the Colossus Movie Guide for Troll? Leave a comment below and we’ll consider adding your thoughts to the guide