With smash-hit Norwegian creature feature Troll Hunter hitting cinemas on the same day that the Rugby World Cup kicks off in New Zealand, Glen Ferris takes a look at some iconic film freaks keen to represent their respective countries in a monster mash-up…
Troll Hunter – Norway
They breed them big and weird up north, as a group of Norwegian student filmmakers discover when they happen upon a government-sanctioned hunter of, yes, trolls in this instant cult classic from director André Øvredal. Interest piqued, the students decide to document a few days in the monster trapper’s life, however that also means they’ve become potential prey for the mythical creatures - which range in size from huge to bloody massive, and differ in dangerousness from violent and hungry to just plain malevolent. In terms of sheer enormity and number, these frozen giants are a tough lot to beat.
Godzilla – Japan
The radioactive rampager from the Land Of The Rising Sun may be not far off 60-years-old (he first made an appearance in director Ishirô Honda’s 1954 classic) but there’s still no stopping him - in fact, he’s due to make a new appearance in a remake by Monsters director Gareth Edwards. For now, the trail of destruction (from Tokyo to New York) and list of fallen adversaries (Mothra, Megalon, Matthew Broderick’s career) should prove testament to the oversized lizard’s absolute badassness.
King Kong – Indonesia
While he may be best known for painting Manhattan red with Fay Wray in the 1933 original, the apex of all apes actually hails from Skull Island, an (admittedly fictional) island somewhere off the coast of Sumatra - so the super simian is actually Indonesian. All of which means that the South-East Asian republic has a surprisingly strong entrant in the mother of all monsters stakes.
Cloverfield – USA
His origins may be unclear but, like so many US citizens before him, he plopped into the waters off Coney Island, so that surely makes the Cloverfield monster American all the way. Representing his country by smashing up a sizable amount of New York City and causing Central Park to go boom in a big way, Clover (as he was called by the filmmakers) clearly isn’t the most patriotic movie monster but when it comes to smashing stuff up he’s a world leader.
An American Werewolf In London – England
Yes, you could argue that the werewolf is American and he just happens to be in London but that argument would be invalid and you would be stupid if you tried to assert it. You see, David Naughton’s Yank abroad is turned all lycanthropic after being bitten by a British beast on an Yorkshire moor so he’s English all the way. Think of it as a club transfer with monsters.
Jason And The Argonauts – Greece
Born from the teeth of the Hydra, these pesky skeletons (representing a high point in the venerable career of Ray Harryhausen) prove to be more of a thorn in the side of our Golden Fleece-hunting heroes than all their other mythical adversaries combined. Earning an honorable mention on this list by dint of being as cool as they are scary, these bony buggers are undeniably classy representatives for their home country.
The Host – South Korea
Just as director Joon-ho Bong’s crazed caper mixes comedy, action and horror, his monster is much more than the sum of his parts. Hailing from where we don’t know and mutated by years of pollution, this mayhem maker is fast, furious and comes complete with lots of dangerous appendages, the fact that he’s a freaky-looking fella only adds to his substantial mystique.
Frankenstein's Monster – Germany
Representing Bavaria, Germany and Europe as a whole, the unnatural progeny of Victor Frankenstein is unique in this list mainly because he’s not a complete bastard. Taking director James Whale’s 1931 classic incarnation in the shape of Boris Karloff (Mary Shelley’s monster is too clever and the Hammer versions are a bit dull), he’s an accidental killer and full or remorse for the wrong that he’s done. All of which makes him a bit more lovable than your average movie monster. Goes to show that manners (and spare body parts) maketh the monster.
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