Michael Paul Stephenson, the child lead in 1989’s Troll 2, allegedly the World’s Worst Movie, turns director. He reassembles the key perpetrators and checks out the cult phenomenon this laughably beserk troll-free film has become.
“Consistently funny and smart about celebrity, vanity and bad movies – and what makes them lovable.” — John Anderson, Variety
Screened as part of NZIFF 2009
Best Worst Movie 2009
Sometimes the most obscure subjects make the most entertaining of docos. In 1990 a little-known horror sequel squeaked into existence: Troll 2 was barely released, soon ending up in video store discount bins. And then, in the quiet of late night cable TV, something amazing happened. The Z-grade film began to attract a cult, as viewers awestruck by the film's utter goofiness preached its glory to all and sundry. Suddenly this laughably berserk film exploded into a phenomenon, ultimately rated on the IMDB as the World's Worst Movie. Michael Paul Stephenson was the child lead of Troll 2 and had been hiding from the film for two decades. But instead of crawling under a rock at the film's new-found fame, he turned a camera on and documented the cult phenomenon in motion. Along for the ride is his co-star and onscreen Dad, George Hardy, the Alabama dentist who suddenly sees the film's resurrection as a possible fast track to a stardom that never came. By turns hilarious and heartfelt, this gem comes with my personal guarantee that it will make you smile for a week. — AT