Filming has kicked off in the quiet reaches of Fara, Sabina for The Nameless Ballad, the latest supernatural horror project from Federico Zampaglione. His previous film, The Well, travelled impressively across the globe, so there is a sense of momentum as he returns to the director’s chair to explore a story rooted in a world he knows inside out. Music sits at the heart of this new tale, although the version we see here is soaked in dread and heavy with unease.
Jamie Ward leads the film as Sam Gallo. He plays a young musician riding the high end of success, yet barely hanging on beneath it. His creative block, personal troubles and various addictions weigh on him, so he slips away to a remote villa in the hope of finding fresh inspiration. The retreat does not bring peace. Instead, the house begins to push against his frailties. Dark shapes seem to circle around him, feeding on his worry and fear. The more he tries to settle, the deeper he sinks into disturbing visions that blur the divide between reality and the stories he carries in his head. His partner Tania, played by Alana Boden, becomes entangled in the same nightmare, pulled along by the destructive tide that grips Sam.
Zampaglione shaped the script with Barbara Baraldi, and together they guide the film along that fine thread that separates imagination from nightmare. The supporting cast is a sizeable one. Giglia Marra, Fabrizio Ferracane, Seumas Sargent, Reed Stokes, Mia Desando, Vincenzo De Michele and Sergio Ceglie all step into the unfolding chaos. Another cast member will be revealed soon, which is being teased as a pleasant surprise for fans of the genre.
The director has described this as his most personal work to date. The supernatural is firmly in place, although the emotional voltage comes from his lived experience as a musician. He hints at a world where every note can stir a ghost, and certain melodies seem to demand a price before they fade. It gives the film a slightly feverish musical pulse that runs beneath the horror.
The Nameless Ballad is produced by SOMIC FILM. Federico Zampaglione directs, with cinematography by Yuri Santurri. The film is heading towards a 2026 launch at major festivals, which leaves plenty of time for the anticipation to build.
