Netflix’s Troll 2 Can’t Overcome A Common Kaiju Problem

December 7, 2025

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Netflix’s Troll 2 has finally hit the platform, but it doesn’t overcome a common problem that has plagued kaiju movies forever. 2022’s Troll was a surprise sensation on Netflix, and the Norwegian flick was quickly green-lit for a sequel. Combining Scandinavian folklore with giant monster action, Troll was something new in the saturated genre.

When Troll 2 finally arrived in 2025, it did little to improve upon the shortcomings of its predecessor, and continued a trend in the kaiju genre that is all too common. While it delivers enough monster action to be entertaining, it suffers from a severe lack of depth that keeps it from being a truly engaging cinematic experience.

The Human Storyline Is The Worst Part Of The Troll Movies

As is the case with nearly every giant monster film in history, the human storyline in the Troll movies is by far the worst part. While both installments deserve credit for being more imaginative than their contemporaries, the lack of depth in the human characters becomes more apparent as the series progresses.

2022’s Troll got by with its weak human characters and paper-thin plot, but Troll 2 was hindered by them. Watching the trolls cause mayhem is entertaining, but without any story support, the film becomes tiring. Nora’s ongoing connection to the trolls seems to be more out of convenience than anything else, and she doesn’t grow in the sequel.

Though the Scandinavian folklore at the heart of the Troll franchise is refreshing, the shortcomings of the films are imported straight from popular kaiju series like Godzilla. Except for a few highlights, the human characters in the classic Godzilla films are merely window dressing for the city-smashing battles. It worked in the ’60s and ’70s, but modern cinema requires more.

The human storyline in the Troll movies doesn’t need to be groundbreaking, but it does need to drive the action. As Troll 2‘s plummeting Rotten Tomatoes score illustrates, Roar Uthaug can’t keep repeating the same trick and expect the same result. Even adding new wrinkles to the troll mythology is only a Band-Aid for the lackluster plot.

Troll 3 Should Take A Page From Godzilla Minus One

Godzilla swimming through the ocean in Godzilla Minus One

The argument could be made that movies like Troll 2 don’t need to have depth, and that they’re just supposed to be entertaining diversions. While that subjective position is impossible to dispute, it is weakened by the presence of films like Godzilla Minus One. The 2023 hit brought ‘Zilla back to his roots, and examined the character’s original symbolic meaning.

It also featured a cast of characters that were just as compelling as the giant monster attacks, which gave each action scene more stakes. The characters’ connection to the monster was tied into the thrust of the plot, and each moment built upon the next. That’s what was lacking in Troll 2, but could be a roadmap for Troll 3.

Since the mythology of the Troll films is connected to Norwegian history, the threequel has the opportunity to actually make the human storyline meaningful, instead of rife with convenience and cliché. Troll 2 is already shaping up to be a big hit, and the ending hints at more to come. Hopefully, the franchise can break the kaiju trend and deliver a well-rounded movie.