|
|
|
STOMACH IT
New body horror film scares up a series of major premieres, including the Oscar-Qualifying Nashville Film Festival, Screamfest and the Chicago Horror Film Festival, and releases first-look trailer and stills
Click here to view the trailer
LOS ANGELES (September 6, 2024) – Isotre Films announces the World, Los Angeles and Chicago premieres of STOMACH IT, the new psychological body horror film starring Jon Lee Richardson (BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F), and written and directed by Peter Klausner (COASTING). The film was produced by Klauser and Torey Rubin (RWBY, Zall Good). STOMACH IT makes its world premiere at the 55th annual Oscar-qualifying Nashville Film Festival on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 9pm local time, followed by the Los Angeles premiere at Screamfest, October 8-17, 2024 and the Chicago Horror Film Festival, September 27-29. All screenings will be followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.
In STOMACH IT, a crime scene cleaner struggles with emotionally detaching from the deceased’s personal possessions. While on a late night job, he convinces himself a monstrous presence is toying with him.
“The idea for Stomach It came about when I first read about crime scene cleaning. Intrigued, I started digging deeper. Every company shared the same qualification needed for the job: a strong stomach. That gave me the idea for a character; a person who struggles stomaching their job.” Said Klausner. “I became fascinated by the psychological aspects of the job and how you are expected to emotionally detach. This body horror story goes to the core of the most raw and visceral parts of the human psyche and aims to connect with audiences at the deepest levels.” He continued.
The main character in STOMACH IT, Joel (Richardson), fixates on objects left behind by the deceased such as a toy horse at an accidental shooting or a colorful toy at an overdose. Joel tries to detach by turning photos around, disposing of final meals, covering photos on mirrors, and covering personal objects like stuffed animals, but it doesn’t work. Joel has an incredibly difficult time trying to digest his trauma.
"Joel was hands down one of the toughest roles I've ever taken on, but also one of the most rewarding. I genuinely loved every second of the project.” Said Richardson.
STOMACH IT explores what happens when a sensitive soul struggles to cope with experiencing trauma on a daily basis. Emotions take residence within our physical selves, growing and rotting when not released, acting like a ticking time bomb. It asks the most fundamental of human questions: Do we have the guts to face our problems straight on or do we let them fester until they become something increasingly monstrous?
The Methods Behind the Madness
Inspired by how Black Swan utilizes body horror to visualize the character’s mental deterioration, STOMACH IT visualizes and takes a deep dive into the main character’s internal issues. Drawing from the practical effects in 1980s horror movies such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Videodrome, the team worked diligently with the film’s special effects make-up artist, Michael Dinetz (Avengers: Infinity War), to create a stomach air bladder. When inflated, the bladder emulates a pulsating stomach. When an intestinal mattress was needed to protrude in the background during a scene, the film’s carpenter was tasked with creating a 3D wooden stomach which was attached with rods and puppeteered through a fitted sheet for maximum effect. And these are just some of the practical special fx in the film.
Rubin says, “Body horror captivates audiences worldwide because it pushes boundaries, both visually and emotionally, making it a genre that is as commercially viable as it is artistically daring. Its raw, intrinsic appeal challenges filmmakers and audiences to step out of their comfort zones. Body horrors’ bold ambition paves the way for new kinds of storytelling that resonates deeply with viewers of all ages across the globe.
Death Comes to Life with the STOMACH IT Filmmaking Team
Peter Klausner has worked with his close friend/ longtime cinematographer, Emily Tapanes, since they were both in high school. Tapanes’s credits include The Morning Show (Apple TV+), A Man on the Inside (Netflix), The Sex Lives of College Girls (Max). Klausner also worked with his good friend/editor, Liam Molina, who also happens to be Tapanes’s fiancé. Molina’s credits include Fallout (Prime Video), Chief of War (Apple TV+), and The Mosquito Coast - Season 2 (Apple TV+).
Torey Rubin is an actor and producer born and raised in Los Angeles. His passion for the entertainment industry ignited at the age of 12 when he attended his first acting class, quickly leading to representation by a talent agent. Torey found early success in local theatre before landing roles on popular television shows for Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. This momentum carried him to USC’s prestigious theatre program, where he earned a BFA. Transitioning behind the camera, Torey established himself as a reliable studio manager at Roosterteeth and later at Warner Brothers. He now focuses on producing independent projects, with a passion for films that explore the dark parts of life - films like STOMACH IT.
Jon Lee Richardson is an actor known for his roles in BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F, BUG, and I MET MY MURDERER ONLINE. Based in Los Angeles, Jon is currently studying at The Groundlings and creates weekly sketch comedy content with his wife, Vanessa. He is repped by Momentum Talent and Mills Kaplan Entertainment.
Audiences will get a chance to experience STOMACH IT first-hand, followed by Q&As with cast and crew starting this September, with its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Nashville Film Festival on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 9PM local time at Regal Green Hills Theatre 15, Los Angeles premiere at Screamfest, October 8-17, 2024 and the Chicago Horror Film Festival, September 27-29.
In STOMACH IT, a crime scene cleaner struggles with emotionally detaching from the deceased’s personal possessions. While on a late night job, he convinces himself a monstrous presence is toying with him.
“The idea for Stomach It came about when I first read about crime scene cleaning. Intrigued, I started digging deeper. Every company shared the same qualification needed for the job: a strong stomach. That gave me the idea for a character; a person who struggles stomaching their job.” Said Klausner. “I became fascinated by the psychological aspects of the job and how you are expected to emotionally detach. This body horror story goes to the core of the most raw and visceral parts of the human psyche and aims to connect with audiences at the deepest levels.” He continued.
The main character in STOMACH IT, Joel (Richardson), fixates on objects left behind by the deceased such as a toy horse at an accidental shooting or a colorful toy at an overdose. Joel tries to detach by turning photos around, disposing of final meals, covering photos on mirrors, and covering personal objects like stuffed animals, but it doesn’t work. Joel has an incredibly difficult time trying to digest his trauma.
"Joel was hands down one of the toughest roles I've ever taken on, but also one of the most rewarding. I genuinely loved every second of the project.” Said Richardson.
STOMACH IT explores what happens when a sensitive soul struggles to cope with experiencing trauma on a daily basis. Emotions take residence within our physical selves, growing and rotting when not released, acting like a ticking time bomb. It asks the most fundamental of human questions: Do we have the guts to face our problems straight on or do we let them fester until they become something increasingly monstrous?
The Methods Behind the Madness
Inspired by how Black Swan utilizes body horror to visualize the character’s mental deterioration, STOMACH IT visualizes and takes a deep dive into the main character’s internal issues. Drawing from the practical effects in 1980s horror movies such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Videodrome, the team worked diligently with the film’s special effects make-up artist, Michael Dinetz (Avengers: Infinity War), to create a stomach air bladder. When inflated, the bladder emulates a pulsating stomach. When an intestinal mattress was needed to protrude in the background during a scene, the film’s carpenter was tasked with creating a 3D wooden stomach which was attached with rods and puppeteered through a fitted sheet for maximum effect. And these are just some of the practical special fx in the film.
Rubin says, “Body horror captivates audiences worldwide because it pushes boundaries, both visually and emotionally, making it a genre that is as commercially viable as it is artistically daring. Its raw, intrinsic appeal challenges filmmakers and audiences to step out of their comfort zones. Body horrors’ bold ambition paves the way for new kinds of storytelling that resonates deeply with viewers of all ages across the globe.
Death Comes to Life with the STOMACH IT Filmmaking Team
Peter Klausner has worked with his close friend/ longtime cinematographer, Emily Tapanes, since they were both in high school. Tapanes’s credits include The Morning Show (Apple TV+), A Man on the Inside (Netflix), The Sex Lives of College Girls (Max). Klausner also worked with his good friend/editor, Liam Molina, who also happens to be Tapanes’s fiancé. Molina’s credits include Fallout (Prime Video), Chief of War (Apple TV+), and The Mosquito Coast - Season 2 (Apple TV+).
Torey Rubin is an actor and producer born and raised in Los Angeles. His passion for the entertainment industry ignited at the age of 12 when he attended his first acting class, quickly leading to representation by a talent agent. Torey found early success in local theatre before landing roles on popular television shows for Disney Channel and Nickelodeon. This momentum carried him to USC’s prestigious theatre program, where he earned a BFA. Transitioning behind the camera, Torey established himself as a reliable studio manager at Roosterteeth and later at Warner Brothers. He now focuses on producing independent projects, with a passion for films that explore the dark parts of life - films like STOMACH IT.
Jon Lee Richardson is an actor known for his roles in BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F, BUG, and I MET MY MURDERER ONLINE. Based in Los Angeles, Jon is currently studying at The Groundlings and creates weekly sketch comedy content with his wife, Vanessa. He is repped by Momentum Talent and Mills Kaplan Entertainment.
Audiences will get a chance to experience STOMACH IT first-hand, followed by Q&As with cast and crew starting this September, with its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Nashville Film Festival on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 9PM local time at Regal Green Hills Theatre 15, Los Angeles premiere at Screamfest, October 8-17, 2024 and the Chicago Horror Film Festival, September 27-29.
