Empire of the Full Moon – Episode 19: Troll (1986)

Step into the shadows with Mike Cadaver as he dissects the bizarre, magical, and grotesque corners of cult horror cinema in Empire of the Full Moon. In this episode, Mike turns his bloodshot gaze to Troll (1986) — a film where fairy tales meet fungi, and apartment tenants transform into creatures of myth under the influence of a troll sorcerer named… Harry Potter (yes, really).

With his trademark grim humor and encyclopedic horror knowledge, Mike explores the film’s oddball practical effects, the surreal blend of dark fantasy and comedy, and its surprising connections to genre legends.

From Sonny Bono’s slime-coated fate to the eerie innocence of the child protagonist, this episode is your cursed gateway to understanding one of the strangest cult gems of the ’80s.

Welcome to the Empire. The moon is full. And the Trolls are moving in.