Movie Info
Movie Name: Best Worst Movie
Studio: Magic Stone Productions
Genre(s): Documentary
Release Date(s): April 23, 2010
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Watch Troll 2…I command it!!!
In 1990, a sequel to the 1986 movie Troll was released. Though not originally intended to be a sequel to Troll, Troll 2 was marketed as such…and a legend was born. Now, years later the cult of Troll 2 has risen. The film frequently listed as the worst picture ever made has found a new renaissance and fans around the world. Actor Michael Stephenson joins his costar George Hardy in looking back on Troll 2 and trying to see what about the film has captured the imagination of fans.
Directed by Michael Stephenson, Best Worst Movie is documentary film about the fandom surrounding Troll 2. The movie premiered at South by Southwest and received positive reviews.
I am one of the few people who sought out Troll 2 when it was released. I liked Troll (and pretty much any horror movie surrounding killer monsters) and was excited when I heard there was to be a sequel released. I remember I could only get it at our supermarket’s video store section…and took it home to say “What the Hell?”
Awkward…
Troll 2 was such an unbelievably bad movie (it is hard to even explain it to people), but as a lover of “so-bad-it-is-good”, I understand why some have latched on to it. The documentary is kind of tricky however in that it is walking a dangerous path. The director of Troll 2 Claudio Fragasso sees the film as a good movie and there are some very uncomfortable moments surrounding his appearances at screenings where people just make fun of it and ask questions he finds insulting to his film.
The film also largely follows George Hardy who enjoys the attention…he really, really likes the attention. It becomes an interesting twist when he realizes that Troll 2’s popularity is really niche and not everyone cares about his movie (like on the trip to England). He becomes a bit more judgmental and critical of fans when they aren’t fanning over him which is a bit of a backhand to fandom in general…you’re fans are good but fans of horror or other films aren’t? If he had received attention at the other conventions, he probably wouldn’t have been complaining.
How ill is Margo Prey? Well, she did compare Troll 2 to Casablanca…
The most difficult part of the movie involves Margo Prey who has become a recluse since the film’s release. It is obvious that Prey is suffering from some mental illnesses that may or may not be being treated. Despite her desire to “go away and never be found”, Stephenson and Hardy go to Prey not only once but twice to try to get her involved in screenings, etc. It feels somewhat abusive since she does have problems that even they recognize. The sympathy doesn’t seem to be there.
Best Worst Movie is a better movie about what it means to be in a cult movie. Actors like Connie McFarland are ashamed of the movie and don’t get the fascination (and believes it has cost her jobs) while other actors consider it a part of life they left behind. People like George Hardy bask in the light of fans and honestly, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing…how many people can say that they’ve created or done something that has such a rabid fanbase and will be remembered…even if it is a small sample of the population? I know I haven’t…sometimes being “Worst” is better than being average.
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