Lorenzo Renzi
Interview with Lorenzo Renzi – Into the Nightmare, with Awareness.
You played an intense and disturbing role in the horror film "The Well". What was the most unsettling moment you experienced on set, and how did you prepare psychologically to face it?
The torture scenes in the underground were very demanding, both for me as the torturer and for the actors playing the victims. They were physically intense takes where people usually get hurt. Fortunately, there were no serious incidents, and aside from a bit of cold and a few scrapes, everything went smoothly.
In horror cinema, tension often arises from what isn't shown. As an actor, how do you convey fear or anxiety when the "monster" exists only in the viewer’s imagination?
I build characters with deep, primal traits. In this case, I worked on the image and sounds of a pig—especially the noises it makes. I think that came through and contributed to the disturbing effect experienced by the audience.
Is there an iconic horror character—perhaps from a film that left an impression on you as a kid—that you would have liked to play or reinvent in your own way?
I’d say Freddy Krueger. I was a huge fan of that saga when I was younger.
Many horror films play with the fine line between reality and nightmare. Have you ever carried the dark atmosphere of a role with you off set?
Luckily, no. But I did a lot of preparatory work to “tailor the clothes” I would wear on stage. I mean all the attitudes and physicality of Arruda, which allowed me to maintain a necessary and natural distance from the character at the end of the day.
In your opinion, what makes a horror film truly effective today? And what elements do you, as an actor, look for in a script to decide whether to take on a role in this genre?
A successful film is the result of a complex and delicate alchemy with many variables to consider. But it all starts with the story. Federico Zampaglione is a passionate director and the first fan of the cinematic tales he brings to the screen. Sometimes having a director who completely believes in what he’s doing gives the film a life beyond the theater. I choose my roles based on love for the character or the director’s vision—when it allows me to perceive layers or details that might not be immediately evident on the page.
After your experiences in the horror genre, can you give us a sneak peek into your future projects? Are you planning more roles in thrillers or horror, or are you exploring entirely new artistic directions?
At the moment, I’m considering some opportunities. I wouldn’t mind returning to a horror film set, but this time I’d prefer to play a character who doesn’t have to gain thirty kilos—because losing them took way more effort than I expected. That said, I do feel a certain nostalgia for the pasta and ice cream binges that came before filming.
