Troll Hunter (Trolljegeren)

On October 13, 2008, Filmkameratene AS received an anonymous package

with two hard disks containing 283 minutes of filmed material.

This film is a rough-cut version of that material.

Everything is shown in chronological order

and no images have been manipulated.

A team of investigators spent more than a year trying to establish

whether this was a practical joke or if the material was authentic.

They concluded that it was authentic.

Ready? Turn on the radio.

- Johanna, do you have sound? - Yes.

This isn't working.

Bear tracks were found yesterday in Volda.

A hunting party arrived there today.

The leader of the hunting party had the following to say:

We expect to locate this bear fairly quickly.

Our real concern is that a poacher has been following us.

Only a select few ever get bear-hunting licenses.

I know every single bear hunter in Norway.

That guy in the Land Rover is no bear hunter.

If he's gunning for our bear, he's breaking the law.

- Have you ever seen him? - We see him all over.

If I see him again, there'll be consequences.

He's nothing but a poacher.

- What would you like to tell him? - To lay his cards on the table.

Drive!

- There's too much traffic. - We're going to lose him!

Ready?

We know his name is Hans, but we have no last name.

Thomas, try being more serious.

But what is he doing in Volda? Who is he?

- Do we have sound? - You haven't plugged in the...

You won't get an interview with a poacher.

I don't like it when you ridicule him.

That's great! Thank you. Bye.

Thomas, that poacher is staying at the campground!

I can't say I know him, but he is here.

He's staying right over here. Want me to show you?

I don't know what that smell is, but his camper sure reeks!

- What are all those things? - I have no idea.

Thyme?

He drives off and stays out all night. He's never back before sunrise.

- He stays out all night? - Yes. Every night.

- In good spirits? - Sure.

We don't know when or if he'll show up.

- There he is! - I'm filming. Just ask him directly.

Hi. My name's Thomas. We're from Volda College.

Could we ask you a few questions?

Get lost.

Maybe we could come back...

- Did it work? - Quiet, I hear something.

Yes, I'm on my way out now.

I expect to find it tonight. Okay, fine. Bye.

- He isn't here. - He was right in front of us!

Sure, but...

- Shit! - Nice work, Thomas.

- Can you see anything? - Yeah.

Some furry things are hanging down from the ceiling.

And there's a shotgun.

We're on our way to where a bear was just found shot.

Could he have been the shooter?

Lord knows where this one came from.

I've checked with every registered bear hunter I know.

None of them shot this one.

The bear population is managed by the state.

So a downed bear like this one causes quite a fuss.

Look at this.

These tracks don't match the way a bear normally walks.

I think someone brought this bear and dumped it here.

- That's weird. - I agree. Very weird.

You're from the Wildlife Board. Finn Haugan, right?

These hunters say those aren't bear tracks.

That's ridiculous. What else would they be?

There is a bear right there, with tracks all around it.

- But why are they in doubt? - Ask them! It's crazy.

We have waited for Hans for hours, but now he's finally moving.

We think he's heading somewhere, and we are going to follow him.

Go!

It looks like he's heading for the ferry.

How long are we going to keep following him?

Can you see what he's carrying?

It's a car tire.

- What's he doing? - I can't tell.

Three, two, one, and...

Sogn og Fjordane county!

Okay, he's over there.

Just hide here.

We met a little while back.

- Really? - Thomas, from Volda College.

- Is that... - Are you following me?

We just want to ask you a couple of questions.

No.

Are you...

What were you doing in Volda?

Did you shoot that bear?

Stay the hell away from me.

Turn that off. Leave me alone!

Once we get what we need, we can go back.

It would be so awesome to get him to talk.

We have tried, plenty of times.

Do you think Michael Moore gave up after the first try?

Left arm or right foot? The one you kick with?

We have been here all afternoon.

I think he's sleeping in his trailer.

So now we wait until something happens.

Are you serious? Okay.

I have to get my sound gear.

What is this?

"No trespassing. Blasting area."

Did you see that? Was that a road?

Did you?

This road is horrible.

If we run into a bunch of inbred pig farmers, your ass is first...

- I'm not... - Stop whining.

- I'm just being honest. - Want to go back?

- Fine by me. - That's not what I meant.

Hey, wait for me!

Look here.

I don't think he's in his car.

- So we know he's here... - But what is he up to?

Here's a trail.

- I hear something in the distance. - What?

Troll!!!

Thomas!

Hurry! My car is right over here!

- What? - Something bit me!

- Are you all right? - It stings.

- You heard him yell "troll," right? - Shut up.

You need some more.

- Can I help? - There's gauze in the first-aid kit.

- Ow! Don't... - We have to get this out.

You look like hell, Thomas.

- What the hell was that? - Tetanus shot.

You yelled something back there in the woods.

- You heard him, Johanna. - What's this slime?

What did he say?

- More? - Yes.

Can you give us a ride to our car?

It isn't very smart to follow me.

Did you yell "troll" out there?

- Is that your car? - What the hell?

- What happened? - That's our car!

Someone crushed our car.

It's completely demolished.

Look at this, Thomas.

- Hans, do you understand this? - I have an idea.

Okay, what... A bear didn't do this.

What do you think happened?

- What... - Ask him if a troll did it.

Hey, if you know what happened to my car, you should say so!

- You yelled "troll." - Forget about that!

What the hell do you want?

You want me to say trolls exist, on film?

- You find that funny? - No, but you don't actually believe...

If you want a ride, you'd better come right now.

- What should we do? - I think I'll walk.

You have our bags?

Just so we get this straight: You actually believe trolls exist?

Why are you so sure it was a bear that attacked you?

What's the matter?

Why are we stopping?

Thanks for giving us a ride.

We'd love to join you, and film what you do.

We'd be very interested.

I'll let you film me killing whatever scratched you, on one condition:

You do exactly as I say, no matter what I say. Okay?

Yes.

I feel like I'm bleeding everywhere.

- Are you admiring your wound? - Yuck! Don't film that!

- You're crazy. - I'm serious.

- Why call them? - To tell them where we are.

He isn't dangerous, just weird.

Remember, he runs the show. We do exactly as he says.

Then we'll get our footage.

No one here believes in God or Jesus?

Nope. None of us.

Don't look at me.

Serious? Because they can smell "the blood of a Christian man"?

Is that alright?

Close the gate and hang up that sign.

NO TRESPASSING. BLASTING AREA.

- Is this a land mine? - Yes. But it isn't armed.

I'm sitting on a land mine? Are you nuts?

Anyone who doesn't want to join me?

Who's changed their mind? Who's afraid of trolls?

- No. - No? Good.

Go down to that creek, take off all your clothes, and scrub yourselves.

- Especially your armpits and groin. - No way!

- Why? - To remove any body odor.

Then rub this all over yourselves and your clothes.

- What is that? - Troll stench.

- Rub it all over your bodies. - It reeks! No way. Forget about it.

You have to smell like a troll, or they'll smell us and run away.

Christ!

- No. No way! - I'm not doing this, Thomas.

Forget about it!

You agreed to do exactly as I said.

If you don't do it, I'll go up there alone and leave you here.

Is that understood?

Are you ready? You're all greased up?

You look cute.