With practical effects quickly slipping into obscurity in today’s Hollywood, where shiny CG effects (and, unfortunately, sometimes AI-generated ones) are the industry standard, nothing really beats a good, old-fashioned puppet. As something real that you can touch, there’s no beating a good practical effect, and that’s exactly what effects artist Leland Stewart is out to prove with his new short film, Gobble.
With vibes somewhere between Labyrinth and The Lord of the Rings, Gobble follows Ragwort, a grimey goblin chef who just wants to make himself dinner. But, pitted against the creatures that live in his cave deep below the Earth, it’s a challenge, as he tries to stay alive long enough to eat his meal. The film is filled with fully practical puppets and sets, filmed entirely in Stewart’s garage for the love of the game.
The film uses a “Punch and Judy style of puppetry to view the slimy underbelly of Goblin life, observing the more mundane aspects of their behavior…the dingy, dangerous, magical and darkly comedic life below the earth.” The short features not only hand-sculpted silicone puppets, but also hand-carved sets made from foam over the course of seven months.
The whole thing comes from the mind of Stewart, who’s worked as a sculptor and practical effects artists on films like Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Wolfman, The Mummy, Evil, American Horror Story, and more. Created and filmed in his garage, the project also features the work of Aaron LaPlante as the voice of the goblin, as well as Steve Koch as director of photography, Hannah Sherer as a sculptor and puppeteer, and Marina Toybina as costume designer.
You can find more information on the adorably grimey new short film here.
