Gruesome Thriller ‘Stomach It’ Debuts at NYC Horror Fest

The psychological body horror Stomach It, written and directed by Peter Klausner, is set to make its New York debut at the NYC Horror Fest on Friday, 6 December 2024, at the LOOK Dine-In Cinema. Following an impressive festival run that includes Screamfest and the Nashville Film Festival, the film offers a fresh take on psychological terror, merging visceral gore with emotional depth.

Starring Jon Lee Richardson (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F), the story centres on Joel, a crime scene cleaner haunted by the possessions left behind by the deceased. His inability to emotionally detach from the trauma he witnesses daily leads him into a descent that is as physical as it is psychological. As the objects around him seem to take on a sinister life of their own, Joel is forced to confront the monstrous manifestations of his unprocessed grief.

Klausner’s approach to the genre is deeply personal. Inspired by his own struggles with anxiety, Stomach It visualises the toll of suppressed emotions through intense body horror. “This film is about confronting the things we fear most within ourselves,” said Klausner. “It challenges us to see what happens when we let trauma grow unchecked, turning it into something monstrous.”

Praised for its unsettling tone and effective use of practical effects, the film’s visual execution has drawn comparisons to the works of David Cronenberg and Darren Aronofsky. Practical effects artist Michael Dinetz (Avengers: Infinity War) crafted the stomach-bladder effects that vividly bring Joel’s inner turmoil to life. From pulsating stomachs to a grotesque intestinal set piece, the film’s visuals are as horrifying as they are captivating.

Early reviews have been glowing. Rue Morgue called it “a brutal meditation on the cost of bearing other people’s horrors,” while Bloody Flicks noted Klausner’s ability to “incite fear and nausea from the very beginning.”

New York audiences will have the first chance to experience this intense psychological ride, with a Q&A session featuring cast and crew after the screening. Tickets for Stomach It at the NYC Horror Fest are available now.

For more information and tickets, visit eventive.org/films/stomach-it

Stomach It teaser trailer