Troll – MVD Rewind Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1986
Director: John Carl Buechler
Writers: Ed Naha, Oliver Gonzalez
Cast: Noah Hathaway, Michael Moriarty, Shelley Hack, Jenny Beck, Sonny Bono, Phil Fondacaro, Anne Lockhart, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Gary Sandy, June Lockhart

Release Date: June 30th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 82 Minutes 36 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: PG-13
Sound: LPCM Stereo English|
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95

"Long ago the earth was inhabited by trolls, fantastic beings who lived a fairytale existence. Torok’s goal is to transform all humans into these mystical beings to regain the power that all trolls once possessed. Little Wendy Potter is Torok’s first victim—he inhabits her body and uses her guise to carry out his mission. As Wendy, Torok works his evil magic on the residents of the Mockingbird Lane Apartments, transforming each human into a troll and each dwelling into a magical kingdom. Wendy’s brother, Harry, is on to Torok. Now it’s up to him and a 2000-year-old sorceress to save his sister, his family and the world!” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “High Definition (1080p) presentation of the main feature in 1.85:1 aspect ratio."

Troll comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.4 GB

Feature: 16.5 GB

The source used for this transfer is the same one used by Eureka Video for their 2018 Blu-ray release. Besides some very minor print debris, the source is in excellent shape. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM stereo mix in English with removable English subtitles. The track sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 48 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival making-of featurette featuring director John Carl Buechler, producer Charles Band, screenwriter Ed Naha, and composer Richard Band (50 minutes 7 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, a collectable mini-poster, and a slipcover (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

John Carl Buechler directed Troll. Although John Carl Buechler is best known for his work in special effects, notable films he’s directed include The Dungeon Master, Cellar Dweller, and Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood. Notable make-up effects credits are Trancers, Re-Animator, Ghoulies, TerrorVision, and From Beyond.

A troll with a mystical ring transforms the inhabitants of an apartment building into fairy tale creatures.

Troll is a textbook example of the film released by Empire Pictures, a company formed by Charles Band, who would go on to form Full Moon Productions. The majority of Empire Pictures films were either horror or sci-fi and, in some instances, a hybrid of these two genres. Other things that Charles Band’s films are known for are their limited budgets and casts filled with recognizable faces.

Troll has many elements that firmly date it with 1980s fantasy and sci-fi films. The most notable element is its heavy reliance on special effects, which are a combination of practical and CGI effects. Although most of the special effects are dated by today's standards, the practical effects fare much better than the CGI effects.

The cast is a virtual who's who of recognizable faces who all deliver enthusiastic performances. The standout performance is June Lockhart (Lost in Space) in the role of a 2000-year-old sorceress. Her daughter Anne (Joyride) portrays a younger version of her character. Another performance of note is Phil Fondacaro, a frequent collaborator of Charles Band; he’s cast in two roles, the troll wreaking havoc and a professor.

Other notable cast members are Sonny Bono (Hairspray) in the role of a swinger, Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld) in the role of an inspiring actress, Gary Sandy (WKRP in Cincinnati) in the role of a military veteran, and Michael Moriarty (Pale Rider) and Shelley Hack (The Stepfather) as the parents of the little girl whose identity the troll takes over. The most surprising aspects of the two child actors' performances are Noah Hathaway (The NeverEnding Story), who portrays Harry Potter Jr. (an oddly familiar name) and Jenny Beck (Tightrope), who portrays his sister Wendy.

From a production standpoint, Troll is a film that often exceeds the sum of its parts. The opening setup quickly draws you in, and things move briskly, never giving you a chance to catch your breath. Other strengths are Richard Band’s (Re-Animator) exemplary score, which perfectly underscores the mood and cinematographer Romano Albani's (Inferno, Phenomena) photography, which gives Troll a more polished look than most of Empire Pictures films. Ultimately, Troll is a highly entertaining film that is a lot better than its reputation.

Troll returns to Blu-ray via a strong release from the MVD Rewind Collection. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer