A Gnome Named Gnorm (released in some markets as Upworld and The Adventures of a Gnome Named Gnorm) is a fantasy buddy comedy film directed by Stan Winston and written by Pen Densham and John Watson. Gnorm was the second and final feature film directed by Winston, a celebrated special effects artist who continued to work in special effects afterward.
Vestron Video released the film direct-to-video in the United Kingdom in 1990, but financial difficulties caused the film to change corporate hands several times before seeing a United States theatrical release in 1993 and a wide home video release in 1994.[1][2][3][4][5]
Plot
Gnorm is just an average gnome who lives underground, but he wants to impress another gnome romantically by doing something heroic. He takes the "lumen", a stone that must be brought to the surface (called "Upworld" by the gnomes) to be exposed to the sun to recharge it. When he gets to the surface, he witnesses a murder and the killer ends up with the lumen. Detective Casey (Hall), who was working a sting operation with the murdered man, is blamed for botching the sting, and the man's death. Wanting to catch the killer to clear his name, he accidentally discovers Gnorm, and they team up.
While working on The Monster Squad, Winston was approached by Peter Hyams, a frequent collaborator of his, who brought forward a script then called Gnome. The idea was considered a special effects challenge, but with Winston's experience and expertise the project moved forward. He began concept work for the Gnorm character while on location during the filming of Leviathan.[6]
The film was announced in 1988 as Upworld with Hall set to star. Winston had become famous for his makeup and special effects work on films such as The Terminator and Aliens, the latter earning him an Academy Award, and he had yet to debut as a director. (Reports of Upworld preceded the release of his first film Pumpkinhead.) The film was originally scheduled for Christmas 1989—a date which would shift several times in the next few years.[7]
The filmmakers' goal was to create a "straightforward action movie," described as a combination of E.T. and 48 Hrs. The Gnorm character was designed as an elaborate puppet with intentionally inhuman proportions so that audiences would not think it was an actor in a suit, although child actors were still used for some shots. Winston wanted the Gnorm puppet to be as lifelike as possible. He referenced the film Howard the Duck in strong terms, wanting to avoid what he considered the "fucking embarrassing" special effects of that film.[1]
Shooting lasted 46 days, starting in late 1988 and ending early 1989. The film's original ending, described as a "heart-rending" scene where Gnorm returns to the underworld, tested poorly with audiences. Winston re-shot an ending intended to be more upbeat and humorous.[1]
Release
The release of A Gnome Named Gnorm coincided with the bankruptcy and eventual sale of Vestron Video, which would cause the film to be sporadically released in different markets over the next several years. Vestron could not find a buyer and so the company itself released the film as Upworld direct-to-video in the United Kingdom in the fall of 1990. In November 1990 Vestron also filed for bankruptcy protection, and the film saw no further release that year.[1][2][8][5]
Carolco acquired rights to the film and entered distribution discussions with New Line Cinema, although reported release dates would be continually pushed back. Summer 1991, February 1992, April 1992, and November 1992 were all reported as potential release dates. None of these release dates were met, and neither Carolco nor New Line would be involved in the film's later releases.[1][9][10][11]
Newspapers continued to report on Gnorm as an upcoming release. During this time, the film's actors discussed Gnorm but were ambivalent about its success. Hall described the film as Beverly Hills Cop meets E.T. "if it works. If it doesn't, it's Howard the Duck." Mark Harelik, who plays a detective in the film, seemed to believe the film would not be released at all, stating in February 1992 "You'll never see that one."[12][13]
Eventually, the film had a limited theatrical release, with theaters in California and Florida showing what was now called A Gnome Named Gnorm on November 5, 1993. The film was released under the production company Lightning Pictures (a label of the now-defunct Vestron) alongside Interscope Communications and Trilogy Entertainment Group. PolyGram distributed the film.[14][15]
Gnorm was released on VHS on April 20, 1994. In 2003, Lionsgate acquired the rights to Vestron's catalog. In 2025, Gnorm is widely available on digital streaming platforms.[16][17][18]
Reception
The film received mixed to negative reviews throughout its staggered release. In its initial UK release, critics stated that the plot was typical for the era, comparing it to recent creature-focused films like E.T. and Gremlins, but believed that children would enjoy it.[2][8]
American critics gave the 1993 release harsher reviews. The film was considered an awkward and "peculiar" combination of elements intended for both children and adults. One reviewer gave Gnorm an F grade, calling the film "tedious" and the Gnorm character "ugly."[3][15]
Legacy
After the difficulty of releasing Gnorm, Winston joked about a "Winston Curse" where his films caused the death of film studios. Pumpkinhead was delayed due to the financial collapse of De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, and Gnorm preceded the bankruptcy of Vestron.[6]
A Gnome Named Gnorm has been remembered as a cult film. It was reviewed by the cult film magazine Psychotronic Video after its VHS release in 1994 and later included in the 1996 The Psychotronic Video Guide. The film has also been covered on genre film podcasts such as How Did This Get Made? and The Flop House.[19][20][21][22]
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