"‘The Traveler & The Troll’ is a Horror-Fantasy Comedy, starring Erika Ishii (Dropout, Ghosts of Yotei) as a weary adventurer who stops to rest in a haunted forest, where they’re terrorized by a Troll, voiced by performer Dave Child (See You Next Christmas, Townies). The Traveler must answer the Troll’s three riddles to survive the night, but it turns out the Troll might have underestimated his prey.
The film was proudly shot in Los Angeles, at Laurel Canyon Stages, and features fantastic performances, practical special FX, original puppets, including a six foot tall troll, stop-motion and 2D animation, real sets, prosthetics, slime, and zero ai.
After premiering at the Overlook Film Festival in 2025 and taking home the Audience Award for Best Short Film, the film was the official selection of over twenty different film festivals, including: Palm Springs International ShortFest, Fantasia, FilmQuest, Soho Horror, Philadelphia Film Festival, San Diego Comic-Con, and won Best Horror Comedy at Midsummer Scream, Best Genre Short at Baton Rouge Underground, and Best Horror Comedy at HollyShorts Comedy Festival.
The film stars Erika Ishii, Dave Child, and puppeteers Brittaney Talbot and Chelsea Pickens Tonick."
Written and directed by Adam Murray, you can learn more at: http://travelerandtroll.com/
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
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