‘Stomach It’ Brings Brutal Body Horror to Film Shortage Premiere

A new psychological body horror short that has been building momentum on the festival circuit is preparing to reach a global audience online. Stomach It, written and directed by Peter Klausner, will make its online world premiere on Film Shortage today, Friday 13 March 2026.

The film arrives after a successful run at several notable festivals, including the Oscar-qualifying Nashville Film Festival and Indy Shorts. It later screened at prominent genre showcases such as Screamfest, FilmQuest and Panic Fest, where it drew attention for its practical effects and unsettling premise.

Produced by Klausner alongside Torey Rubin, Stomach It stars Jon Lee Richardson, whose credits include Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Bug and I Met My Murderer Online. The story follows Joel, a crime scene cleaner struggling to maintain emotional distance from the disturbing environments he encounters as part of his work.

Joel’s professional routine involves removing evidence of violent or tragic deaths, yet the personal traces left behind begin to weigh heavily on him. Items such as children’s toys, photographs and remnants of everyday life become difficult reminders of the people who once occupied the spaces he must now restore. As he attempts to cope by methodically covering photos, disposing of food and hiding objects that remind him of the victims, the line between emotional detachment and psychological collapse begins to blur.

During one late-night assignment, Joel becomes convinced that something unnatural is observing him. What follows is an increasingly disturbing confrontation between his suppressed trauma and a presence that may or may not be real. The film explores how prolonged exposure to death can fracture the mind, presenting the character’s internal struggle through increasingly grotesque physical manifestations.

Klausner’s approach relies heavily on practical effects rather than digital imagery. Working with special effects artist Michael Dinetz, whose credits include Avengers: Infinity War, the production designed a series of tactile effects to visualise the protagonist’s deterioration. One such effect involved a custom air bladder built into a prosthetic stomach to create the illusion of a pulsating abdomen, while a separate mechanical rig was constructed to simulate unsettling movement beneath a sheet.

Film Shortage will debut Stomach It as part of its Daily Short Picks programme. The platform will stream the film globally on its website and official YouTube channel, providing international audiences with their first opportunity to watch the short outside the festival circuit.

The online premiere of Stomach It takes place today, Friday 13 March 2026 via Film Shortage.

Stomach It trailer