Hot Docs 2009 Interview: How Troll 2 Became The Best Worst Movie

If the indicators of a good film are a coherent script, decent acting and a focused director than Troll 2 is by no means a good film. It’s actually considered the worst film ever made. If you watch it knowing that, it becomes something special though. It becomes the best worst movie ever made and being the best (even of the worst) is something to be proud of.

Michael Stephenson (who was only 10 years old when he starred in Troll 2 as the freckle-faced Joshua Waits) was embarrassed to even list it on his resume (same goes for most of the other cast members). That all changed for him a few years ago when he saw groups of people gathering to watch Troll 2 and having a genuinely good time. To the surprise of everyone involved, Troll 2 had become somewhat of a cult hit since its straight-to-video release in 1990. After realizing he was the star of the best worst movie ever made, Stephenson got the idea to find out what made this film an underground hit. Why were people drawn to Troll 2 and what did the cast and crew think of this?

After four years in the making Stephenson’s documentary Best Worst Movie is finally making the rounds on the festival circuit (it plays Hot Docs May 1, 2 and 3) and has sparked interested in a possible Troll 3. I spoke with Stephenson on the phone from his home in Los Angeles about how Best Worst Movie came to be and what’s next for the one of the biggest cult stars of our generation.

When did you get the idea to make a documentary about Troll 2?

“About four years ago I started getting MySpace or Facebook messages and then some people actually saw my email from another site. I started getting messages from fans that would say things like ‘Are you Joshua Waits? Please say it is so!’ And I just kept thinking – this is so weird. This is so bizarre. And I really had no idea and didn’t think too much about it. Then I started getting emails from these fans who were holding Troll 2 parties. They would take place in these basements and they were taking place all over the country and even in some parts of the world. It was eight, ten kids in a basement having a great time watching Troll 2. Dressing up, eating green food and they’d send me these pictures. From the pictures I remember just staring at them and it was very clear they were having a great time. They went to great lengths to have these little parties.”

Was it hard getting George Hardy (who played the father, Michael Waits, in Troll 2) involved?

“George is one of the most incredible guys. He was like, ‘We have to go to the screenings!’ I told him I had this idea for a documentary and I really want to follow this, I think something’s happening. At that time I really didn’t know George was going to be the vehicle for this whole thing. I saw an interesting contrast with his Alabama small town [laid back personality] as a dentist and this kind of movie star in a very odd roundabout way.”

Were the other cast members wary when you approached them about the documentary?

“Some were, yeah. Some cast members were right off the bat, ‘Let’s do this, this is fun’. Darren Ewing and Jason Steadman got it. Everyone was wary going to New York but it was driven by the (idea that), ‘We have to see what’s going on.’ After that we sat and we had breakfast the next morning and everybody just thought ‘Wow, that’s a cool experience.'”

“Connie was so difficult. To just get her to understand what was happening. She still doesn’t really understand. Her and I have a good relationship so I kinda laid on the little brother guilt and said ‘We’ve gotta talk. You’ve got to come to this and see what’s happening’. Once she sees the documentary then all of a sudden there will be a lightbulb over her head and she’ll say ‘Ok, I get it.'”

Did Margo Prey (who played the mother, Diana Waits, in Troll 2) ever see the doc?

“Margo is taking care of her mom and she’s very reclusive. I felt a big responsibility to reach out to her and try to get her to a screening. She never wanted to come. When we were editing I remember waking up at three in the morning thinking I have to treat Margo with such great sensitivity because she is kinda fragile and in a different state. She hasn’t seen it yet. I think if she saw it she would enjoy it…she’d really love it.”

Claudio (Fragasso, director of Troll 2) seemed happy at how popular the film had become but by the end he came across a little hurt. Does he support your doc?

“With Claudio, he’s very passionate. One day he’s angry and the next day he loves you. He’s excited with what’s happening with Troll 2. We brought him to the Los Angeles screening and he loved it. Seeing him soak it in with these fans he really enjoyed it. Afterwards he pulled me aside and said [in a bad Italian accent] ‘Michael, this is incredible. We have to do a Troll 3. Tomorrow we run into McDonald’s, you grab a hamburger, scream and we’ll shoot it and we’ll promote Troll 3.'”

Do you plan to produce any other documentaries?

“I’m interested in making another film. Whether that’s a documentary or a narrative, really…it’s kinda inconsequential. It’s all about the story and the subject matter. For me it’s really all about falling in love with the story or the subject or the characters. I don’t think I could have someone come to me and say, ‘Make a movie about XYZ’ or, ‘Make a documentary about this subject matter.’ Whatever project you’re bringing up, whether it’s a documentary or a narrative, for you to do it justice you kinda have to have this love affair. You really need to give it your all and commitment. Anything short of that you end up not satisfied.”

Would you do Troll 3 if asked?

“If I had another opportunity to work on set with George Hardy I don’t think I could turn it down. I cannot rest until George gets another part in a movie or until George is on Letterman or appears on Dancing with the Stars or whatever. My personal feelings…I don’t know. I can’t close the door certainly.”

Are you still embarrassed to tell people you were in Troll 2?

“Not at all. It’s been such an enriching experience and seeing this whole thing go full circle in this really weird way. I’m very proud of it and oddly I really respect it. It goes back to what I’ve seen through people and how they’ve enjoyed it and gotten that outside perspective. I’ve walked out of the theatre more times than not thinking I’ve never heard so many people laughing and having such a great time. It’s very positive.”

Best Worst Doc plays at Hot Docs Friday May 1 at 9:45pm, Saturday May 2 at 11:45pm and Sunday May 3 at 2pm.

Hot Docs 2009 runs from April 30 – May 10. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.hotdocs.ca.

brian.mckechnie@citynews.ca

Top image: Still of Michael Stephenson in Troll 2. Courtesy MGM Home Entertainment.

Middle image: Still from Best Worst Movie.