Gnomes is exactly what you think it is with a twist. Yes, it has to do with gnomes. But it’s not the cute and rosy-cheeked ones that hang out in your garden. No, these gnomes are terrifying little creatures who will take you down if you encroach on their territory. And that’s exactly what happens in the horror short from Dutch filmmakers Ruwan Heggelman, Richard Raaphorst, and Jasper ten Hoor.
Due to its success at film festivals like Fantastic Fest 2020 and 2022 Frontières Platform at the Marché du Film at Cannes, it has caught the attention of Sony Pictures and 21 Laps. The studios are set to transform this horror short into a feature horror film. And Ant-Man and the Wasp writers Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari are set to work on the screenplay.
Gnomes, or kabouters in Dutch, are part of the history of many countries, with each having its own take. Some see them as spirits who help around the home and others see them as tiny people who teach lessons to those around them. And this transformation into something terrifying follows Hollywood’s exploration of turning beloved fairytales and stories we grew up with into terrifying new takes as with Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and the Grinch-inspired film The Mean One.
Of course, this isn’t the first time gnomes have been explored in a horror format. There’s the short film The Little Garden Gnome, which needs a trigger warning for suicide. Then there’s Night of the Gnomes, which tells the story of gnomes who go on a murderous rampage in a cul de sac. And we can’t forget about Gnome Alone, which definitely gives Leprechaun vibes via 1993.
Either way, we’re glad to see short films like Gnomes being transformed into feature films because it will hopefully get people to explore the talent within the short film space.
