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Best Worst Movie: Director Michael Stephenson

Best Worst Movie trailer. We already told you HERE that Troll 2 and Best Worst Movie are screening together tonight at Scotiabank Theatre at 9:00 pm.

Best Worst Movie trailer.

We already told you HERE that Troll 2 and Best Worst Movie are screening together tonight at Scotiabank Theatre at 9:00 pm. The pair will also be screening again on October 15th as a midnight double bill at The Rio Theatre, hosted by Paul Anthony. For more Best Worst Movie information, go HERE.

I had the chance to talk with my friend, director of Best Worst Movie Michael Stephenson, about his awesome documentary which you would be remiss to miss.

Best Worst Movie director Michael Stephenson as Josh in a scene from in Troll 2.

You were a child star. Can we say that?

Yes, you could say that. I was the screaming, whining, ten year old brat from the worst movie ever made, Troll 2.

The film gained notoriety from repeatedly being shown on TV for years. How did you avoid the pitfalls of fame that have managed to befall so many of your contemporaries?

(Laughs)

Why aren't I face down in the gutter with track marks on my arms? Troll 2, as you know, was a complete flop. It was something I was embarrassed by and did not feel like a measure of success in any way, because it wasn't. It's horrible. I didn't want anything to do with it. But then a funny thing happened – it never went away and became a phenomenon.

We all have these things in life that we're embarrassed by, that we look back on and go, “Oh, that is so stupid, that is so embarrassing!” Baby photos or whatever. Mine was ... a movie. That was everywhere. And I really hated this movie. But now, oddly, it's come full-circle. It's that same embarrassing movie that has provided me with some of the most rich experiences of my life. Truly, it's wild. It's pretty amazing.

Troll 2 trailer.

That element of the story is quite endearing.

You look back at your life and think of something that you may regret but are now grateful for because it's part of who you are. It's the same exact thing with Troll 2. All of these years later now I am more affectionate towards this movie I hated.

The path that it's led me on has been a complete surprise, completely unexpected and just ridiculously rewarding in the most meaningful ways.

There's gotta be other films like that out there.

There are obviously other bad movies that people have quite a level of affection for. It's pretty wild. There are some, like Troll 2, that just have this ... will to live. It starts from one person saying to another, “you have to see this movie, it's horrible” and forcing their buddy to sit down and watch it. It's the power of word of mouth, it's just as simple as that. It builds up over time and then eventually reaches critical mass, mutating over time – like with the internet making it more accessible to millions.

I like that idea. I also like the idea of Troll 3: The Will to Live.

(Laughs.) Believe it or not Claudio Fergasso [the director of Troll 2] calls me every week and the latest call is that he is hell-bent on making Troll 2 Part 2 and he wants to make in in 3D! Heaven forbid.

I've evolved along the way with this whole thing, from where at first it's like, “this is the worst idea ever and this will never happen” to now going, “it's still a bad idea but uhhh ... he may actually get this made.” His last call was with a pretty reputable Italian producer which is crazy to me – totally crazy! The fact that we may see George [Hardy, who portrayed Michael's father in Troll 2] all of a sudden doing this again is bizarre. But at the same time I think that to be able to document and see this thing come together - like George getting a script for the first time and then working with an Italian crew – as a documentary filmmaker, that would be priceless.

And then the other part of me is like, “I'm trapped in this Troll tunnel and I'll never escape...!"

After fighting off vegetarian goblins in Troll 2, actor George Hardy opened a dentistry practice in Alabama.

Would you reprise your role?

Oh my gosh! Here's the thing: the thought of working again as an actor with Claudio is really ... terrifying. But – I've said it before – if George was in the movie and I could make a documentary of this thing as it was happening, why wouldn't I support it? If it were to happen you'd just have to take it as an indicator that you need to support it and be a part of it. What are the odds of that?

It's too much. It's perfect.

It's crazy. And maybe it is too much and too far on the other side of the line. I think Claudio is a fascinating guy and I love the sheer insanity of thinking about him with his Italian crew returning to Nilbog, with the actors, to make a sequel to this movie that was a complete disaster that then became genuinely loved because it was one. It's just insane.

Would you demand script approval?

The creative person I am would want control, but that taints the process. If it's gonna happen, it's gotta be Claudio in the chair and 1000% trust. That's the only way. As soon as it gets murky with other people then it's not his anymore.

There's a real irony in your life that this thing that was such an embarrassment or burden for you has now come to define you, at least professionally. Do you ever get sick of Troll 2?

Creatively, you need a breath of fresh air – we've been doing this movie for four years! But the instant you step inside of a theatre or you meet an enthusiastic fan that has met seven of his lifelong friends because of Troll 2 – it's very rewarding. It feels very positive and so genuine. It's not because of press or attention, but because this crappy little film that was made with a lot of heart by an Italian director with such pure intent has, strangely, left this lasting impression and will be a film that will be remembered for years. That's special. You can't create something like that. And every time I remember that and put it into perspective I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude. And, to have an opportunity as a first-time filmmaker of encapsulating all of this into something that is very meaningful to me is crazy.

I recently went into a screening for the 1000th time. I was grumpy, I hadn't eaten, I was like, “I”m so sick of this damned movie!” It wasn't more than five minutes into it that I was overtaken with this incredible sense of gratitude and just smiled with this amazing sense of what we had created. It's so meaningful and is going to last for a long time. That's special, and I am very proud of that.

What are you working on, other than Troll 3? What's next?

I'm going to be a dentist and just start fixing people's teeth.