Troll Bridge — A Review

20th January, 2021.

Right … 

It’s a Wednesday evening, as I start this post.

And?

Frankly, I’m going to go to bed, in a minute: at a time that — twenty years ago — I would have said is a ridiculously early time to go to bed.

But?

The older I get, the more being in bed with a good read is the height of a good time!

So I’m planning to hit the sack with an Arthur Machen story.

But … ?

I felt I should tell you’ve I’ve finally seen the short film version of Terry Pratchett’s Troll Bridge.

And utterly loved it!

~≈🌉≈~

21st January, 2021.

Based on the Terry Pratchett short story of the same name, Troll Bridge opens on a bleak wintery landscape: with a narrator telling us how people would be at home, in front of the fire.

Unlike heroes.

Unlike one very specific hero: the ageing Cohen the Barbarian (Don Bridges), and his talking horse, Horse (Glenn Van Oosterom).

Cohen has an ambition: he wants to go out in a blaze of glory, as the world he lives in is no longer what it was.

And, to make sure he does?

He’s heading for Death Bridge, to fight one of the few remaining wild trolls a body can find.

There’s only one small problem

Mica the Troll (John Jenkins) … has other ideas … 

~≈🌉≈~

Now …

First things first.

Troll Bridge was originally crowd funded — on Kickstarter — and made available to backers on blu-ray.

Secondly?   The nitty gritty.

What did I make of Troll Bridge?

You’re possibly aware I’ve been reading the work of the late Sir Terry Pratchett since the nineteen-eighties.

And loved every page.

I’m also someone who — with books I’m passionate about? — a stickler for textural authenticity.

If you make the film of the book, anything you add had best be justified by the text of the original novel, short story, graphic novel, what have you.

I can understand a certain amount of cutting, or characters being amalgamated.

But what’s left?

What’s left, and on screen, should be justified by what’s in the text.

Peter Jackson’s version of The Lord of the Rings is a good example of how to get it right.

I, Robot, an equally good example of getting it very wrong.

I’m going nowhere near BBC America’s The Watch.

It’s got nothing to do with anything I’ve read of Sir Terry’s work.

So … authenticity?   Being true to the text?   Does Troll Bridge, on screen, match what’s on the page?

It’s spot on!

Other’s have put Sir Terry’s work on screen, in one form or another: and, with the exception of the bastardisation put out by BBC America?

Have done so well, enough. 

Snowgum Films’ version of Troll Bridge?

Is damn near perfect.

Writer/director, Daniel Knight has put some work in, both in scripting and directing the piece.

But I have to tip my hat to the cast.

John Jenkins was superb as Mica, the troll who’s heart and soul is under the bridge his family’s owned for centuries.

And Don Bridges, as Cohen?

David Bradley does a great job as Cohen, in Sky’s version of The Colour of Magic.

But Bridges nails it!

Even down to the teeth.

It’s … 

Frankly, Troll Bridge is as near to a perfect adaptation of the story as I could ask.

Equally as frankly?   I’m not going to tell you to try and get the bluray.

It’s on YouTube: and embedded under this sentence.

And?

It’s a superb piece of work.

Go watch: 

Troll Bridge.

★★★★⁺