A new disturbing and thought-provoking film is headed your way. Get ready for Stomach It, a psychological body horror film set to premiere at the 55th annual Nashville Film Festival later this month.
Stomach It follows Joel (played by Jon Lee Richardson), a crime scene cleaner struggling to cope with the emotional weight of his job. Surrounded by death and despair, Joel becomes fixated on the personal belongings left behind by the deceased. As he cleans late one night, he starts to believe a monstrous presence is toying with him.
Stomach It explores the toll that constant exposure to trauma can take on a person. The film utilizes body horror to visualize the protagonist’s emotional state, creating a visceral and unsettling experience.
Writer and director Peter Klausner explains the film’s origins:
“The idea for Stomach It came about when I learned about crime scene cleaning. I became fascinated by the psychological aspects of the job and how you are expected to detach emotionally.”
The filmmakers opted for practical effects to create a sense of realism. Special effects makeup artist Michael Dinetz (Avengers: Infinity War) developed a pulsating stomach air bladder, while the film’s carpenter built a 3D wooden stomach used in an alarming scene.
Klausner collaborated with a close-knit team, including cinematographer Emily Tapanes (The Morning Show) and editor Liam Molina (Fallout). Producer Torey Rubin, who has a passion for films exploring the darker aspects of life, was drawn to the project’s unique exploration of trauma.
Stomach It will have its world premiere at the Nashville Film Festival on September 20th. It will next screen at Screamfest (Los Angeles) and the Chicago Horror Film Festival.
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