Acting is a demanding profession, but acting with a mask on for a significant portion of your performance presents unique challenges. Just ask Kane Hodder from the ‘Friday the 13th’ movies or Tom Hardy, who played the masked Bane in ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ Florian Munteanu, the actor who portrays Krieg in Eli Roth’s sci-fi romp ‘Borderlands,’ had to act in a mask throughout the entire film. Despite this obstacle, he managed to capture the essence of his character, making him as captivating on screen as he is in the game. In an interview with Digital Trends, Munteanu delved into the difficulties of translating the game to the big screen and how playing an intimidating brute unexpectedly revealed a comedic side audiences hadn’t witnessed before.
When asked about the impact of the mask on his character development, Munteanu emphasized that it was an integral part of Krieg’s identity. He stressed that the mask doesn’t excuse actors from giving their all, highlighting the importance of nuanced expressions, eye acting, and body language to compensate for the lack of facial visibility.
Preparing for the role was relatively straightforward for Munteanu, as he was already familiar with the game and its characters. Krieg is his favorite, so he had a wealth of knowledge to draw from. While the physical preparation was intense, he thoroughly enjoyed immersing himself in the role. The challenges of acting with a mask, however, were undeniable.
Munteanu drew inspiration from Tom Hardy’s performance as Bane, another masked character known for his imposing presence. He acknowledged the difficulties Hardy faced with limited vision, a problem he also encountered due to the mask’s movement. Balancing fighting scenes with the need for safety presented another hurdle.
The actor embraced the opportunity to infuse Krieg with a humorous element, a facet he felt was inherent to the character’s split personality and dialogue. This comedic side allowed Munteanu to explore a new facet of his acting range. He also touched on the strong bond between Krieg and Tiny Tina, played by Ariana Greenblatt, praising her talent and ease of collaboration.
Balancing the need to honor the game’s source material with his own interpretation was a delicate balancing act. Munteanu acknowledged the limitations of condensing complex storylines into a two-hour film, inevitably leading to the omission of certain details. He admitted that adapting video games to film is notoriously challenging, and striking the right balance between source material and creative adaptation is key. Munteanu expressed confidence in the film’s adaptation and ultimately left the judgment to the fans.
