Troll 2

Troll 2, released in 1990, is a horror-comedy film directed by Claudio Fragasso and written by Francesco Lia Tosto and Claudio Fragasso. On the surface, the movie appears to be a typical family-friendly vacation film, but beneath its façade lies a dark, fantastical world where evil beings known as goblins lurk in the shadows. At the heart of Troll 2 is a young boy's struggle against seemingly insurmountable forces, as he seeks to protect his family and their souls from the clutches of these malevolent creatures. The film begins with a family - Joshua, a young boy, his mother Diana, and his father Michael - setting out on a vacation to the town of Nilbog. Unbeknownst to the family, Nilbog is an anagram of the word 'goblin.' As soon as they arrive in the town, Joshua becomes increasingly anxious and agitated, insisting that they should leave immediately. His concerns are dismissed by his parents, who view his behavior as mere paranoia. However, Joshua is not alone in his fears. A spectral figure, later revealed to be the spirit of his deceased grandfather, appears to Joshua and warns him about the dangers that lie ahead. According to the grandfather, Nilbog is infested with goblins, and Joshua's family is in grave danger. Though initially skeptical, Joshua's grandfather proves to be a reliable source of information, and the boy begins to see that there is more to Nilbog than meets the eye. Upon their arrival in Nilbog, the family quickly settles into a cozy cabin, surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills. Joshua's parents soon realize that the town is home to some of the most unsavory characters - the locals are rude, hostile, and seemingly out of place. It is here that Joshua begins to see the goblins for what they truly are - ugly, sinister, and bent on causing chaos. As the days pass, members of the family start to disappear one by one, consumed by the goblins. Diana, Joshua's mother, becomes increasingly detached, her behavior becoming more erratic as she succumbs to the goblin's influence. Meanwhile, Joshua becomes convinced that he must protect his father, Michael, from the clutches of the goblins, and he embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the secrets behind Nilbog. As Joshua delves deeper into the mystery of Nilbog, he learns that the goblins are a supernatural force, bent on exploiting human blood to sustain their existence. They have an insatiable hunger for the red liquid, and will stop at nothing to satiate their cravings. To Joshua, his grandfather's ghost, and a select group of locals, the fate of the family, and indeed the world, hangs in the balance. Despite the dire circumstances, the film offers a touch of dark humor. Joshua and his unlikely allies engage in increasingly bizarre battles with the goblins, using every ounce of creative ingenuity at their disposal. There is a memorable scene in which Joshua resorts to using ketchup, which serves as a substitute for blood, a strategy he learned from his grandfather's ghost. Ultimately, Joshua and his grandfather's ghost find themselves in a heart-stopping showdown with the leader of the goblins, a monstrous creature named Anglerianus, in a climactic battle of good vs. evil. It is in this moment of desperation that Joshua draws upon all his strength, ingenuity, and resourcefulness, determined to save his family and their souls from the clutches of the goblins. In the aftermath of the confrontation, Joshua's family finds themselves victorious, having narrowly escaped the wrath of the goblins. Though their ordeal is over, the consequences of their encounters with the supernatural remain. Their world has been forever altered, leaving them to question whether their perceptions of reality will ever be the same.