Troll 2 (1990) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie takes place in Nilbog, a small town that appears quaint on the surface but harbors a sinister secret. This eerie location serves as the epicenter of the goblin menace, featuring abandoned buildings and unsettling landscapes that create an atmosphere of dread throughout the film.

• nilbog
• setting
• goblin town
• location

Nilbog is the name of the fictional town where the story unfolds. The name itself is a key part of the town's sinister identity, representing the deceptive charm that lures unsuspecting visitors into the goblins' trap.

• nilbog
• town name
• goblin village

Troll 2 is set in a contemporary time period, blending everyday family life with supernatural horror. While no specific year is given, the era reflects modern family dynamics and social relationships, making the horror elements feel closer and more unsettling.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern era

The film centers on supernatural horror through its goblins that prey on humans, blending ordinary family life with terror. Joshua's battle against these creatures represents the struggle between innocence and malevolence, as he confronts forces that challenge his perception of reality.

• supernatural horror
• goblins
• evil

Deception is central to the goblins' strategy, as they manipulate humans into consuming poisonous food that transforms them into vegetable matter. This theme works both literally and metaphorically, showing how trust can be easily undermined and how danger lurks beneath seemingly harmless situations.

• deception
• trust
• goblin trap
• poisoned food

Family dynamics drive the narrative as Joshua grapples with loyalty and protection amid external threats. The film portrays the lengths a family will go to protect each other against the goblin menace, with underlying tensions between family members coming to light during their survival ordeal.

• family
• relationships
• loyalty
• protection

Joshua Waits is the young protagonist who must protect his family from the goblin threat. Though initially thought to be imagining things, his intuition proves essential as he confronts the terrifying realities that his grandfather warned him about, embodying innocence against overwhelming evil.

• joshua
• protagonist
• main character

Seth (whose real name is Robert Ormsby) is Joshua's deceased grandfather who appears as a ghost to guide and warn his grandson about the dangers of Nilbog. His spectral presence emphasizes the importance of family bonds and provides crucial wisdom in the fight against the goblins.

• seth
• grandfather
• ghost
• mentor

Holly (whose real name is Connie Young) is Joshua's older sister who provides a counterpoint to the horror unfolding around her. She struggles with relationships and trust, torn between her social life and the growing dangers threatening her family, highlighting the film's exploration of familial bonds under pressure.

• holly
• sister
• family member

Creedence Leonore Gielgud (whose real name is Deborah Reed) is the druid leader of the goblins and the film's main antagonist. She possesses magical powers and can transform between a beautiful woman and a terrifying goblin, representing the evil that hides beneath attractive appearances.

• creedence
• goblin leader
• antagonist
• villain

The goblins of Nilbog are supernatural creatures that prey on humans by luring them into the town with deceptive charm. They feed on humans by converting them into vegetable matter through poisoned food, serving under the leadership of Creedence Gielgud.

• goblins
• creatures
• monsters
• Nilbog

Troll 2 is classified as a Fantasy, Horror, and Comedy film, though these genres blend in an unusual way. While it features genuine horror elements including body transformation and a bleak ending, its low-budget execution has made it a cult classic often described as 'so-bad-it's-good,' creating an unintentional comedic layer.

• genre
• horror
• comedy
• cult classic