Douglas Vermeeren – Tenants

By starrymag | December 15, 2023

By: Dana Jacoviello

 

 

Q) Please tell us the premise behind the film Tenants.

 

A) Tenants is a horror analogy movie in the traction of films like Twilight Zone: The Movie, Creepshow and Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye.  The film follows a mysterious woman who has arrived in the apartment building she lives in, but in a different time and dimension where things are somewhat different. And her presence starts a sinister variation of the world where she normally resides.

 

Q) When you were reading the script for Tenants, where did you want to take your character Leonard in this film?

 

A) Leonard is unique in the sense that he has delusions about what happens in reality. He creates a new more sinister story in his mind. I wanted to play him as vulnerable and sincere, instead of someone looking to create mischief.

 

Q) Is there a specific process of where you have to take your mind to do a horror film, which most of the time entails a disturbing mindset?

 

A) I think the challenge can sometimes be to find a way to make disturbing behavior rational and normal in the mind of the character. No one ever believes they are a bad person or a villain. Everyone wants to justify their actions, behavior and motives.

 

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before working with them on this film?

 

A) I was not. I had several conversations with the director by phone before starting. But my first day on set was the first time I met everyone involved.

 

Q) Would you say doing horror is easier compared to other genres?

A) I think every actor who takes their roles seriously finds that there can be just as much effort with any character you asked to play regardless of the genre. I also think that it’s often misunderstood that characters who don’t have as much screen time are easier to play. The reality is that as an actor you can never forget you are playing a real person and for that character to be real to the audience you have to do the work.

 

Q) What was one of your favorite stand-out scenes from the film Tenants that you felt came out extremely well?

 

A) I was very pleased with the scenes that took place in the dark room. They were suspenseful and captured the creepy factor in a very convincing way. I don’t want to say too much, or I’ll give away some spoilers for those who haven’t yet seen the film.

 

Q) What emotion or message do you hope lingers with audiences that explore Tenants?

 

A) I think Tenants will leave different emotions with the viewers. Each segment in the analogy has different emotional goals that are trying to be accomplished. I think overall the viewers of this film will enjoy the thrill of the horror, but also moments of emotional connection and even comedy with several of the characters.

 

Q) Your work is versatile in being an artist. Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it, and is it hard to do both?

 

A) I think both jobs are quite different. I enjoy both for different reasons. I think the greatest blessing in my life is that my job allows me to be creative no matter what I am doing that day.

 

Q) Within your filmmaking goals, do you plan to stick with horror or venture out into other genres?

 

A) Most of the work I have done up until now is not horror. I have done very little of it up until recently. I expect that most of my work in the future will also be outside the horror genre. But you never know! Rather than select a particular genre to work in, I choose the projects I do on the strength of the script and a handful of other factors.

 

Q) What is your next directing goal you would like to achieve?

 

A) At the moment, I don’t have any directing projects that I am looking at. I am attracted to classical foreign cinema. I think one day I would like to direct something with a “French Nouveau” feel.

 

Q) What are the other projects that you have been busy working on?

 

A) In these last few months, I just completed Jackknife, written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Adam Jack. I think this is going to be an incredible movie that speaks directly to a lot of the race questions that we are facing today.

Directly after that, I did another horror movie with Daniel Turres. The film is called Fresh Meat and just like it sounds it is a call back to the slasher movie craze of the early 80’s. I think they have created another iconic character like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers in this one. It was a lot of fun.

And from there I just completed a western action film in Arizona with several legendary martial arts action stars. This film features Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton, Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Keith Cooke and many others. I played the right-hand guy for the main bad guys. It was a blast.

And I’ve got several more coming up just after Christmas. It’s going to be a very busy year.

 

 

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of the work you do?

 

A) First of all, I want to say thank you. Thank you so much. I appreciate all the support and love you send my way. Without people watching the movies we wouldn’t be able to create them. It’s always wonderful to see that you’ve been part of something that people enjoy.  Naturally, I’m a big fan of movies and the cinema myself. So, I know what it’s like to be a fan as well. And I just want to make films that fans can appreciate and enjoy! Thank you again!