Best Worst Movie - Will's Review

SHOCKTOBER SPECIAL: BEST WORST MOVIES

In honour of Halloween, we're taking a special "Shocktober" break from the Time-Out 100 Best Horror films, to focus on some of the worst...

As with this weeks main movie, Troll 2, I first saw this back in 2010 for my own blog, but it's such a delight I was happy to use this opportunity to see it again.

The documentary is made by Michael Stephenson, the child 'star' of Troll 2 itself, and mostly follows George Hardy (Troll 2's father) as he (along with Stephenson) embark on a screening tour enjoying the, albeit dubious, fame that the movie has granted them.

The meet all of the major cast, and manage to convince most of them to come to a screening with them, even the movies sister, Connie Young, who is still an actress (but does not list Troll 2 on her CV).

Most of the cast are in a good place now; either getting on with their civilian lives, or as jobbing actors; sadly the same cannot be said of Margo Prey, Troll 2's on-screen mother. Prey's segment starts off hilarious, she still believes they made a great movie (comparing it unironically to Casablanca) and shed a tear remembering Stephenson playing a devastated child... pretty soon though it stop being funny, and starts being sad; she clearly isn't, mentally or emotionally, a well woman, convinced that she will one day return to acting, but deflecting any further questions with "it's complicated", and despite her dreams of returning to acting wants nothing more than "to move far far away, away from everyone". It's necessary that this footage was included, but it provides the movie with an unwelcome sadness and discomfort.

Aside from Margo, the only time we see thing go not-so-well for the former cast, is when they try working booths at Memorabilia, and at a Horror convention - the warm welcome they enjoy at Troll 2 events does not translate well to general fandom, most of whom haven't heard of the movie.

This is, though, one of those rare documentaries that will retroactively raise your enjoyment of, and appreciation for, the source material, and I'd go so far as to call it required viewing for any movie fan (even if you've never heard of Troll 2).

It makes me want to host a Troll 2 screening...