There might be no worse job on Earth than being a crime scene cleaner. Being responsible for clearing up the aftermath of someone’s death sounds gruesome any way you slice it, and it’s understandably a heavy job to deal with, especially if you have your own trauma coming in. That’s the focus of director Peter Klausner’s new short film, Stomach It, which just released a new sneak peek.
The entirely silent clip introduces our protagonist Joel (Jon Lee Richardson), a crime scene cleaner who’s not detached enough from the job to truly be great at it. We see him across various clean-ups, lingering on sentimental items that belonged to the deceased, before having them taken away from him so he can do what he’s there for. This inability to detach will come back to haunt him, as he becomes convinced that a monstrous presence is toying with him, even if he can’t prove it.
“The film was born from a personal fear of mine—that suppressing trauma without addressing it can manifest in deeply unhealthy ways,” says Klausner. “While researching, I became fascinated by crime scene cleaners and how they’re expected to emotionally detach from their work. That detachment felt like a compelling lens through which to explore repressed trauma.”
“When writing the script, I struggled with how to externalize the character’s mental anguish. Sound played a significant role, but I knew I needed a visceral visual element—body horror became the perfect answer. The subgenre is incredibly effective in portraying a character’s psychological unraveling. For me, making horror films is therapeutic; each phase of production allows me to confront my fears and anxieties in different ways. It’s crucial that my collaborators connect with these themes as well. That shared understanding makes the process deeply personal and creates a powerful bond. When I reach the end of a horror project, I always feel a sense of catharsis—like I’ve confronted and processed something within myself.”
Stomach It will be shown at Panic Fest in Kansas City on Sunday, March 30, as well as on its virtual platform, as well as featuring in the HorrorHound Film Festival on March 22. Check out the new sneak peek below:
