Copyright holder / Distributor: Total Fiction / Screen Invaders / Stan
Gnomes is a 2026 Australian horror comedy series created by Joel Cohn. The script was written by Teagan Higginbotham and Paul F. Vervooren, and the direction is entrusted to Joel Cohn, Matthias Hoene and Sian Davies. The first season includes six episodes lasting about 30 minutes, in which bloody horror is combined with absurd humor.
In the small Australian town of Nompton, the local authorities are organizing a festival to attract tourists and help the struggling community. However, police officer Arnold Kipps has far more serious problems when his former partner Ellie McKay returns to announce that the local police station may be closed. Meanwhile, an ancient evil awakens and brings garden gnomes to life, launching a bloody attack on the residents. Arnold and Ellie must join forces with a group of police officers and young people to stop the gnome queen and save the town from destruction.
Gnomes relies on a deliberately exaggerated style, in which supernatural horror is intertwined with a parody of police stories and classic monster movies. The directors use the contrast between the calm provincial everyday life and sudden outbreaks of violence to create an atmosphere that is both tense and comical. The story pays homage to the horror comedies of the 80s, but adds a modern rhythm and self-irony. Short episodes allow the action to develop dynamically, without losing the absurdity of the situation.
Asa Butterfield plays the role of Sergeant Major Arnold Kipps, and Megan Smart is Ellie McKay, his former partner and past love. Teagan Higginbotham and Matt Okine complement the police team, and Darren Gilshannon is transformed into the mayor of the city. Among the other participants are Alison White, Brett Tucker, Luke McGregor, Nicole Gulasekaram, Tess Haubrich, Charlotte Nicdao, Emily Taheny and Nina Oyama. The actors must maintain a serious attitude towards their characters even when the plot moves into frankly absurd and bloody situations.
Gnomes is suitable for viewers who like horror comedies with monsters, dark humor and unconventional ideas. The series turns ordinary garden decorations into a threat and uses this unusual premise for a series of chaotic clashes. Instead of striving for realistic horror, the production relies on exaggeration, dynamics and parody elements. For fans of bloodier monster movies and series, this is a curious offer with a clearly expressed style of its own.
