-Written by Kyle Bain.
A crime scene cleaner, Joel (Jon Lee Richardson), struggles to understand the difference between reality and fantasy. He feels as if a monster is consuming him, playing tricks on him–and his life is at risk as a result. His job asks a lot of him, and recently it’s been begging the question: can you Stomach It?
Stomach It is something of a mindfuck, not really allowing viewers to fully grasp what is occurring until the final seconds of the film. Much of the film plays out in psychedelic fashion, with flashing lights, a shaky camera, etc.–and it’s all used to immerse the viewer in this film, in this experience. Stomach It is literally shaky, and, again, that immerses us in a film in which we don’t really know what’s taking place until the final moments. There’s a clear struggle with mental health throughout; we know that Joel is struggling to come to terms with the job that he’s tasked with performing (and, honestly, who wouldn’t be)–but we aren’t privy to what exactly it is that’s going on in his head. The technical aspects of Stomach It help to create mystery, and that propels the film forward, making it more enjoyable for viewers along the way.
I recently had a conversation with a colleague of mine, one where we both expressed to one another that we wish that when we were in school that teachers and administrators would have explained to us the plethora of jobs that are out there, things beyond the standard policeman, firefighter, teacher, etc. Stomach It allows viewers to journey into a field that I’d venture to guess isn’t often heard of, and far less often sought after. As I wrote this out I started to lose my train of thought, but I think my point was that while Stomach It is a unique cinematic venture for a series of reasons, branching out into a profession that is almost never talked about is a nice touch, and a brilliant way into this film.
This is the second film that I’ve watched in the past week that limits the amount of dialogue present in it, but in a way that benefits the film greatly. And, for the second time, I find myself frustrated at the fact that there is any dialogue at all. Stomach It, while certainly strange, holds a lot of weight–and the dialogue steals from that. Nearly the entirety of the film is Joel struggling internally, but having a conversation with other characters steals from that.
There is an intensity that exists throughout the majority of Stomach It, and that comes to life through the use of light, cinematography, and more–but the thing that hinders it is the use of dialogue. I don’t need external dialogue, as Joel’s internal dialogue is more than enough to bolster the intensity of the film. It’s little decisions like this that can ruin a film, that can make it challenging to appreciate. Now, while I certainly don’t believe that the dialogue ruined Stomach It, it certainly does hinder its ability to be as successful as it should have been.
Written & Directed by Peter Klausner.
Starring Jon Lee Richardson.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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