Written and directed by Peter Klausner, while struggling to emotionally detach from the deceased, a crime scene cleaner (Jon Lee Richardson) believes a monstrous presence is toying with him.
Two things that Stomach It makes very obvious early on that Peter Klausner does well with this short film are the use of both colour and quiet. With the help of cinematographer Emily Tapanes, Klausner consistently creates a fantastic palette which does a wonderful job of accenting the scenes. Something that’s certainly helped by relying on physical effects, giving things a more old-school feel that was a clever choice as it works really well.
There’s a certain simplicity to it which helps to ramp up the tension, on top of adding a nicely creepy edge. Klausner captures that idea of how exhaustion leads to a deep vulnerability, and how jobs dealing with violence and death can slowly crawl under your skin. A combination of the two brings together the story of Stomach It, it’s missing a bit of backstory or something to add a bit more depth to this character, but it still works.
Part of why it works is the performance from Jon Lee Richardson, he captures a real sense of fear and foreboding. Richardson does an excellent job of tapping into that quintessential feel of horror and in a very convincing manner. He’s the one and only character here, so it’s all on his shoulders and he carries that weight effortlessly.
Stomach It is a solid piece of horror, it’s shot well to inject plenty of tension and colour. Jon Lee Richardson gives a strong performance to drive the short film and he’s supported by some great practical effects work. It can feel a touch too simple in its story, not giving viewers much to get their teeth into but the atmosphere and aesthetic are undoubtedly enthralling.
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