Now Unlocked: Volcom's Full Length Film 'Lobotomy' - Stab Mag

Live Now: "Horse" — A surf film by James Kates starring Noa Deane — streaming exclusively on Stab Premium.

362 Views

Now Unlocked: Volcom’s Full Length Film ‘Lobotomy’

Starring Noa Deane, Jack Robinson, Ryan Burch, Yago Dora, and more.

cinema // Jul 15, 2021
Words by Michael Ciaramella
Reading Time: 2 minutes

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a proper Volcom surf film. 

Their last, Psychic Migrations, was arguably the best team film of the past decade, landing in our lap(top)s all the way back in 2015. 

Since then, Volcom’s team has expanded to include some very exciting names — most notably Noa Deane and Jack Robinson — who feature heavily in their latest venture.

Ryan Thomas, the mastermind behind Psychic Migrations, was tasked with creatively portraying Volcom’s new cadre in a pandemic year. With no direct access to Aussie-based talents such as Jack, Noa, and Ozzie Wright, Thomas had to get creative. So he dove deep inside his own mind, rummaged around for a few months, and emerged with his egg severely scrambled. The result is the film you see above: Lobotomy.

A ‘lobotomy’ a historically misguided brain surgery, which was once used to “treat” people with psychological illnesses. This concept loosely ties the film together with brief moments of brain-centric interpretive dance, though the real theme is that the film has no theme — it’s just straight surfing from some of the most watchable surfers on the planet.

Highlights include:
– the opening section with Noa and Jack hacking away at an undisclosed wedge (1:33)
– Jack’s solo West Oz section, including multiple North Point pit-to-punts (3:45)
– Yago Dora refusing to put a foot wrong on his surfboard (6:15)
– Ozzie Wright making a mid-life career turn and becoming GoPro’s most avid ambassador (8:39)
– Balaram in beach break megatubes (13:35)
– Ryan Burch’s headless log session, which was the only way to follow up his rainbow fish section in Psychic Migrations (15:32)
– Noa Deane’s closer section, including a switch alleyoop (19:39)

Now, the astute viewer might be thinking, “Didn’t you just list every single section?”

Yes, I did. Watch the film and tell me you disagree.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Blood In The Bracket: Wildcards Wreak Havoc, Ethan Ewing Performs “Best Ever Surfing At Bells Bowl”

Xav Huxtable eliminates Italo Ferreira + Morgan Cibilic marches into the Quarterfinals.

Apr 25, 2025

Rip Curl Pro Bells Day 3: Caity Simmers Stumbles, Gabby Bryan Snatches Yellow Jersey

Huge day of upsets as competition shifts to Winki.

Apr 24, 2025

Sydney: Low Key Big Wave City

Tim Bonython, Chase Hardaker and Letty Mortensen on the spectacular intersection of April swells +…

Apr 23, 2025

Surfing Your Brains Out Is Now A Legit Path to Higher Education

If only this existed when we were in high school.

Apr 22, 2025

Gruelling Day At Bells: Six Eliminated, Ramzi Boukhiam’s Season In Jeopardy After Injury

Vahine Fierro, Ian Gouveia, Dvd Silva and more axed after 10-hours of competition.

Apr 22, 2025

How Lowers Became the 2028 Olympic Surfing Venue

The cobblestones beat Huntington’s flash, dodged the chlorine trap, and buried a couple Olympic gold…

Apr 22, 2025

Empty Set: What Defines A ‘Pro’ Surfer?

Nathan Fletcher, Jacob Szekely, and Alex Midler grapple with the blurry line of professional surfing.

Apr 21, 2025

PC, Woke, Or Genuine Connection And Respect?

The intersection of surfing and Indigenous cultures.

Apr 19, 2025

New PerfectSwell Wavepool Announced Outside of Zion National Park, Utah

The tech that fuels Boa Vista Village and São Paulo Surf Club is coming to…

Apr 18, 2025

Gabriela Bryan and Tyler Wright Shape the Narrative on Opening Day at the Rip Curl Pro Bells

Dispatches from an offensively pleasant morning at Bells Beach.

Apr 18, 2025

Why Surf Apparel + Wetsuits Are Bracing for “A Massive Closeout Set” 

Vissla and Sisstr CEO, Paul Naudé + Boardriders’ Wetsuit Czar, Scott Boot talk tariffs. 

Apr 17, 2025

‘Wildcard To Win Bells,’ Says Local CT Veteran 

Tricky Chook, Superman specialist and former Trials winner, pegs Xavier Huxtable for the W.

Apr 17, 2025

For Whom Shall The Bell Toll?

With the cut just one month away, so the Aussie Treble begins.

Apr 16, 2025

Competitive Surfing: A Playground For Billionaires

The WSL and an alt-tour upstart are backed by nine figure net worths. Is there…

Apr 15, 2025

“I Want to See An Ankle-Breaking, Knee-Breaking, Career-Ending Air”

And the first invite to Stab High 2025 goes to...

Apr 15, 2025

Lower Trestles Announced As 2028 Olympic Surfing Venue

“We are honored to share this gem of California’s state park system with the world.”

Apr 15, 2025

Tweed Is Not That Suss, and Other Dispatches from the God Realm

An American’s back-to-the-ocean POV on the Australian Boardriders Battle.

Apr 15, 2025

How Did A Surf-Starved State Produce 22 World Titles?

Red Bull No Contest rockets over Florida.

Apr 15, 2025
Advertisement