Museum’s First Friday Feature will horrify you in your sleep, haunt you for life
For immediate release ‐ March 21, 2016
Contact: Jon Pishney, 919.707.8083. Images available upon request
RALEIGH — There’s nothing more frightening than a little boy’s nightmare … until that nightmare ends up inspiring one of the worst movies of all time. Don’t miss the cinematic disaster known as “Troll 2,” haunting the big screen at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on First Friday, April 1, 7 p.m. Be afraid … be TWICE as afraid!
The loosely formulated plot of “Troll 2” (1990) involves a family that makes the Griswolds look smart being pursued by vegetarian goblins who seek to transform the family into plants so that they can eat them guilt-free. And it all takes place in a whacked out town named Nilbog (yes, that’s goblin spelled backward). Add to this wonderful construct a director (Claudio Fragasso) who doesn’t speak any English and an English-only cast consisting of Morgan, Utah townsfolk (and one mental patient) that had never acted before (and thankfully, hardly acted since).
If you were thinking this is a sequel to 1986’s “Troll” you would be mistaken. There is no connection between the movies other than an effort of “Troll 2” distributors to gain some market interest upon its release. (It didn’t work.) And yes, Don Packard was out on a pass from a mental institution when he was cast as the ominous drugstore owner only because the actor that supposedly had the role never showed up. “You can see I was crazy,” Packard admits.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this movie is just how dreadful it really is. Movie reviewer Ken Hanke of the Asheville Mountain Express summarized his movie-going experience this way: “There are movies that are bad. There are movies that are so-bad-they’re-good. And then there’s ‘Troll 2’ — a movie that’s so bad it defies comprehension.”
In fact, “Troll 2” was so bad it inspired a documentary — “Best Worst Movie.” Directed by the once-disgraced child star of “Troll 2,” Michael Paul Stephenson, the (ironically) critically acclaimed documentary “unravels the stories of the unforgettable real-life characters that starred in the film and the colorful army of devotees who continue to revel in the film’s perfectly flawed brilliance.”
Teens! Join us at 6 p.m. in the Daily Planet Café for this month’s Teen Science Café — “Talk With the Animals.” In the 2009 Pixar film “UP,” a boy befriends a fun-loving pup who can speak to him through the use of a special collar that translates barks into words. It might seem far-fetched, but Dr. Dave Roberts, a computer science professor at NC State, has done it! You will hear directly from Roberts, and a few furry friends, about the technology he and his team developed. Open to all teens, no RSVP needed. Free food vouchers to the first 50 teens to arrive.
The Museum stays open from 5 to 9 p.m. on the First Friday of every month, inviting visitors to witness a (classic) sci-fi or horror movie on the big screen, wander through eye-catching exhibits, groove to live music from Mystic Shoe and enjoy snacks and beverages from the Daily Planet Café. Additionally, the Museum Store offers after-hours shopping and an opening reception for Amanda Charest (6–8 p.m.), whose show “Another Point of View,” runs April 1–30 in the Nature Art Gallery. All exhibited art is for sale.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (11 W. Jones St. and 121 W. Jones St.) in downtown Raleigh is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world, drawing them into the intriguing fields of study that are critical to the future of North Carolina. Hours: Mon.- Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., noon-5 p.m. Visit the Museum online at www.naturalsciences.org. Emlyn Koster, PhD, Museum Director; Susan Kluttz, Secretary, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; Pat McCrory, Governor.
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development. NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.