Ciaran Lyons Tummy Monster made its debut at Glasgow Film Festival and stars Lorn Macdonald as a self-centered tattoo artist whose obsession with getting a selfie with a famous client leads to the most bizarre and revealing night of his life.
“Rub your tummy or I’ll think you’re an asshole”
Those are the words that Tummy (played by Orlando Norman) repeats, over and over, like a haunting melody to Tales (Lyons).
Tummy Monster touches on themes of celebrity obsession and the parasocial relationships people have with their favourite artists. Tales thinks he is entitled to a selfie from Tummy but it is that self-centeredness that is eventually his downfall. It also addresses that many don’t care about spending time with the celebrity, but using them for their own clout whether it’s to family, friends or the wider online community.
Tummy repeatedly declines the selfie and repeats his sinister mantra; framed, in one memorable shot, almost demonically with the smoke from his bubblegum vape and red back lighting as he sits in a golem-like stance.
Sleazy and Atmospheric
The cinematography throughout is sleazy and atmospheric, with the vape smoke filling the air of the tattoo parlour and the contrast between the harsh lighting of Tales “saferoom” (the back room of his shop) and the neon glow of the blue and red lights of the main shop.
Demon motifs are all over – the shop walls lined with frame drawings of all kinds of monsters and creatures. Tales is being metaphorically haunted by his decisions and the walls collapsing in on him. The film being set in one location adds to this feeling of isolation and confinement and the tension ratchets up to unbearable levels in just 80-odd minutes.
A fantastic debut
Lorn Macdonald is exceptional as Tales, so unable to see past his ‘man ego’ that he sidelines picking his daughter up from school to compete in the selfie game. Orlando Norman is also fantastic as the haunting popstar Tummy. A lot of the screenplay involves repetition of the “or I’ll think your an asshole” line and his acting gives it a rhythmic quality.
Tummy Monster is a fantastic debut from Scottish director Ciaran Lyons that manages to use one location to it’s maximum potential, crafting a tense story with a timely message.
Featured Image Credit: Glasgow Film Festival
He/Him
Arts Editor 24/25
Press email: arts@brignews.com
