Genre: Monster – Action – Fantasy
Country: Norway
Director: Roar Uthaug
Released: Netflix, 2022
FULL STORY SUMMARY
The Awakening
Deep inside the Dovre mountain range in Norway, a railway construction project blasts through solid rock, ignoring warnings from locals who claim the mountains are sacred. The explosion awakens something ancient — a gigantic creature long believed to be only a myth.
Soon after, massive destruction is reported. A colossal being made of rock and earth emerges from the mountains. The government quickly mobilizes the military, but conventional weapons prove useless.
Introducing Nora Tidemann
The Prime Minister calls in Nora Tidemann, a paleontologist whose estranged father once insisted that trolls were real. He had been ridiculed for his beliefs.
Reluctantly reunited with her father, Nora begins to investigate the creature. She discovers that Norwegian folklore may not be fiction after all — trolls once roamed the land and were driven to near extinction centuries ago.
The creature they are facing may be the last of its kind.
Failed Military Response
The army attempts to stop the troll using:
- Fighter jets
- Heavy artillery
- Missiles
Nothing works. The troll moves steadily toward Oslo, destroying highways, towns, and military forces along the way.
As panic spreads, the government debates more extreme measures, including bombing populated areas to stop the monster.
Discovering the Troll’s Weakness
Nora studies ancient folklore and uncovers key truths:
- Trolls turn to stone in direct sunlight.
- They are territorial but not mindlessly evil.
- They may be reacting to human intrusion into their land.
She realizes the creature isn’t attacking randomly — it is following a path tied to ancient troll history.
The Final Plan
The military sets a trap in Oslo, hoping to eliminate the troll in the city center. The plan fails catastrophically, causing widespread destruction.
With time running out, Nora proposes a different solution:
Instead of killing it with weapons, they must lure it into the open and expose it to sunrise.
The team uses bright UV lights to simulate sunlight and guide the troll toward an open area. As dawn breaks, the real sunlight hits the creature.
Slowly, the troll begins to petrify.
In a tragic and almost emotional moment, the massive being turns completely to stone and collapses.
Ending
Norway begins rebuilding. Nora reflects on humanity’s role in disturbing ancient forces.
In the final scene, seismic activity suggests that the petrified troll might not have been alone — hinting that more creatures could still be sleeping beneath the mountains.
Themes
- Nature vs. human expansion
- Myth becoming reality
- Respect for ancient history
- Science and folklore intersecting
