Television series

Gnomes

Name: Gnomes
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Released: 2026
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Megan Smart

A darkly comic horror-fantasy about a small-town cop and his ex trying to stop an army of killer gnomes unleashed by an ancient evil queen. It's silly without being stupid, genuinely creepy underneath the absurdity, and packed with the kind of character chaos that makes ensemble comedies sing. For anyone who loved the tonal balance of *What We Do in the Shadows* or *Tucker and Dale vs. Evil*.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like horror-comedy that treats a garden-ornament apocalypse as a silly, escalating romp, with slapstick energy and a cheerfully daft small-town cop-show streak.

Skip it if you want frights that stick or a tidy, grounded tone; this is six episodes of deliberately ridiculous chaos, and the jokes and gore can feel like they are shouting at you.

What it asks of you: A short run of six episodes, so it moves quickly and asks for little commitment, but you need to be willing to go along with a loud, broad register from the first minute.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

What We Do in the Shadows2014

Mockumentary about vampire flatmates nails the exact tone Gnomes is after: horror-comedy that respects both halves equally, with a ragtag found family and constant deadpan one-liners. Asa Butterfield's timing will click immediately if you loved this.

But It's deliberately low-energy in places, and the mockumentary format means talking heads instead of action. Patience with awkward silences is required.

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil2010

Subverts horror tropes with working-class charm and genuine heart. Two ordinary guys versus chaos and misunderstanding—exactly Kipps and Ellie's energy. Funny, bloody, and unexpectedly moving about loyalty.

But The horror violence is played for laughs, which won't land if you need scares to feel earned. Also feels a bit dated in places.

Severance2022

Genre-bending workplace conspiracy with an ensemble cast finding dark humour in nightmare logistics. Like Gnomes, it trusts the audience to hold horror and comedy in tension while caring about ragtag characters solving impossible problems.

But It's slow-burn and cerebral where Gnomes is kinetic. The first episode won't grab you by the throat—it whispers first.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Gnomes

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Wellington Paranormal2018

Both centre small-town law enforcement versus the supernatural, trusting tone shifts and ensemble chemistry over cheap gags. Wellington Paranormal proves how far this format can stretch into actual creepiness.

Mockumentary following deadpan NZ cops hunting supernatural threats with absurdist Kiwi humour. Same DNA as Gnomes—small-town police, impossible situations, genre mashup—but with a dryer, weirder register that deepens the horror.

But Very quiet deadpan comedy; almost no music or editing snap. If you want obvious jokes, you'll miss half of them. Also deeply weird in ways mainstream comedy isn't.

Dead Boy Detectives2024

Young misfits solving supernatural mysteries with genuine weirdness and character warmth. The tone walks the exact line between camp and creepy that Gnomes does, with a cast that feels like actual friends.

But It's sincere where you might want more edge. Some viewers find it too earnest, especially in quieter character moments.

Scream1996

The original deconstruction of horror clichés, with ensemble cast dynamics and meta-humour that informed everything Gnomes does. Genuinely scary and genuinely funny, never choosing between them.

But The 90s production design shows its age. Also, the opening kills are shocking, so content warnings matter if slasher violence unsettles you.

The Midnight Club2022

Ensemble horror with character depth, group chemistry, and the willingness to be both spooky and silly. Mike Flanagan understands that teenagers and misfits facing weird threats need heart alongside jump-scares.

But Gothic and introspective when you might want punk energy. Also cancelled after one season, so unresolved threads.

Army of Darkness1992

Bruce Campbell versus deadites in a film that invented action-comedy horror. Absurd, quotable, and genuinely inventive with practical effects. Gnomes clearly draws from this energy.

But It's knowingly goofy in ways that feel dated now. Also very 90s action-weird—if you prefer subtlety, skip it.

Trick 'r Treat2007

Ensemble horror anthology with interconnected stories, dark comedy, and real bite. Halloween-set small-town chaos with misfits and mysteries aligns with Gnomes' ensemble spirit.

But The anthology structure means characters shift; you don't get a single throughline. Tonal whiplash if you're expecting consistency.

Happy Endings2011

Rapid-fire ensemble comedy with exes navigating relationships and chaos. The dynamic between Kipps and Ellie will remind you why this show's chemistry was electric, and the group-finds-weird-solutions vibe echoes.

But Very light compared to Gnomes—no horror stakes at all. Might feel too fluffy if you want actual darkness with your comedy.

Odd Thomas2013

Same engine: ordinary people in small towns discovering something ancient and evil, rallying misfits, fighting with whatever they have. But Odd Thomas plays it straight, letting you see what the comedy version of Gnomes is riffing on.

A young man who sees death pursuing his hometown's darkest secret with a ragtag group of locals. Desert-town atmosphere, character-driven horror, genuine stakes despite supernatural absurdity. Wildly underrated adaptation of Dean Koontz.

But It's sincere and melancholic where Gnomes leans comedic. Also visually static—long stretches of walking and talking. Very earnest about its moral stakes in ways that can feel heavy.

The Substance2024

Both are ensemble pieces where ordinary people face body-horror threats with dark humour and practical ingenuity. But The Substance takes the grotesque seriously where Gnomes makes it funny, showing you the opposite end of how far 'killer objects' stories can stretch.

Body-horror sci-fi about a woman's desperate solution to ageing. Absolutely unhinged practical effects, grotesque humour, genre-defying chaos, and Demi Moore giving the performance of her life. Visually unlike anything you've seen.

But It's deeply unsettling and often disgusting. Not for squeamish viewers. Also three hours of escalating body-mutilation comedy, which is a very specific mood—easy to admire, harder to enjoy.