Under the pseudonym John Morghen, actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice appeared in a string of Italian gorefests, helmed by the industry’s masters of horror like Umberto Lenzi (CANNIBAL FEROX), Lucio Fulci (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD), Michele Soavi (THE SECT and STAGEFRIGHT) and Lamberto Bava (BODY PUZZLE). The cultured Radice met gruesome fates in most of these bloody films and generally portrayed shady characters. Now, in the U.S. production THE INFLICTION, Radice plays a good guy for a change, Lieutenant Lorenzo, who’s hard at work on a diabolical serial killer case in Dallas, Texas (see previous item here). Fango spoke with Radice about writer/director/star Matthan Harris’ THE INFLICTION, and we also got some exclusive pics to boot.

FANGORIA: How did you wind up in Dallas making a serial killer film?

GIOVANNI LOMBARDO RADICE: It’s not the first time. I was there last year to film the first part. Matthan Harris contacted me through Facebook, I read the script, liked it…and in Dallas I was.

FANG: Do you get a lot of offers to make movies in the U.S.?

RADICE: Not as many as in the UK, but quite a few, yes. Mostly from young people, which is great. I am always open to new experiences.

FANG: What attracted you to the role of Lieutenant Lorenzo?

RADICE: It’s an entirely new role for me. A good guy, rough in manners but good at heart, a sort of Humphrey Bogart role I was never offered and thus very interesting.

FANG: Is there an effort made to explain how an Italian wound up working in the Dallas police force?

RADICE: Well, his name is Italian, but we don’t know about his past. He can be the son of immigrants or he might have moved to the U.S. many years ago…

FANG: Did you meet any of the other horror icons in the film, like Doug Bradley, Bill Moseley or Sid Haig.

RADICE: No, because we do not have scenes together. I deal mostly with Matthan, other cops and the girl [Lindsay Hightower].

FANG: How did Matthan’s directing style compare with the Italian masters you’ve worked with?

RADICE: He is an actor in the first place and thus he knows actors and is very helpful. Many of the old Italian directors weren’t very good with actors. He is wonderful in creating scenes with very little and is very professional. Matthan has a lot of energy and strong potential.

FANG: Is the Italian horror scene closer to making a comeback?

RADICE: I don’t think so. There’s no money, and the movie industry is very low. TV runs everything with prime-time stuff. No space for the extreme.

FANG: It was fun seeing you in THE OMEN remake as Father Spiletto. How did that shoot go?

RADICE: It was wonderful. [Director] John Moore treated me like royalty, and we shot in Prague, the most beautiful town ever. A very good experience and very helpful in getting me on the go on an international level.

FANG: After a slow stretch, you seem to be busier than ever, acting-wise. What else do you have coming up?

RADICE: There are a few projects in UK, including MANSON RISING with Andrew Jones and BEYOND FURY, with Darren Ward who directed me in A DAY OF VIOLENCE. And some projects with Ruggero Deodato.

FANG: You play The Almighty in THE REVEREND, also with Doug Bradley. What can you say about that one?

RADICE: The script was very good, and how could I refuse the role of God? Rutger Hauer as the Devil was a blast, and the scene we have is very powerful. Can’t wait to see it on screen.

FANG: What’s the status of HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK 2?  

RADICE: Preproduction. There’s some money from Canada, and hopefully we will start shooting in February 2012. It’s a project very dear to me, because of my old role of Ricky and because I invented the plot with Deodato.

For more on Radice’s Italian splatter flicks, see interview in FANGORIA #294. 

Trailer:

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