From Scarface to Glamorous Gangsters, Neil Marshall Talks DUCHESS

By Shannon McGrew

In DUCHESS, Neil Marshall's latest film, a small-time crook named Duchess tries to enter the treacherous underworld of diamond trafficking and ends up left for dead when a deal goes wrong. Determined to seek retribution, she launches into an unwavering pursuit of vengeance.

For the release of DUCHESS, Creepy Kingdom's Shannon McGrew spoke with co-writer/director Neil Marshall. During their chat, they discussed everything from the film's initial concept of a "female Scarface" to Marshall's favorite action/thriller films that inspired its creation.

Thanks for speaking with me today, Neil. You and Charlotte Kirk have worked on numerous projects in the past, so what inspired this story, and how was working together on it?

Neil Marshall: Although this was the third film we made, it was the first one we wrote together back in 2018 when we came up with this notion of doing a female Scarface. Obviously, it evolved from that initial concept into something else with elements of [Scarface], but it became its own story.

We first made The Reckoning, and then COVID came along, and after, we did The Lair. Then, we finally got around to getting all our ducks in a row to make DUCHESS. It was a long process from script to screen and then from shooting to screen.

What was the training process like when it came time to transform Charlotte Kirk into the Duchess?

Neil Marshall: We started pretty early in pre-production cause she had to learn boxing and how to handle firearms because she'd never done anything like that before. It was a whole process of going through that, working with the stunt people for the fight choreography, there was a lot to do but she threw herself into it.

Sean Pertwee and Charlotte Kirk in DUCHESS | Image courtesy of IMDB

What I enjoyed most about DUCHESS was that it showed flawed female characters, especially when we are introduced to Charlie (Stephanie Beacham). Can you talk about the importance of showing those types of characters?

Neil Marshall: Women can be way more terrifying than men and also, in some cases, a lot less squeamish. What occurred to me when I was writing the character was I think that Scarlett/Duchess is a mirror image of what she could end up with; she could end up with this person, which I think is part of the reason why she makes certain decisions along the way and why she makes a certain decision towards the end. She does what she needs to do, and that's it.

With Charlie, I was specifically writing a character for an older actress who's not a grandma, but she's a godmother of sorts, I suppose. She's a very feisty, active, lethal woman in a powerful position. Thankfully, we got Stephanie Beacham to play the role, and she absolutely devoured that role in the best possible way. It was funny listening to her swearing like a trooper [Laughs].

What have been some of your favorite action/thrillers that inspired you to create DUCHESS?

Neil Marshall: I've always loved the gangster genre, be it everything from Scorsese and Tarantino and things like that to British gangers films like The Italian Job and Sexy Beast. The Long Good Friday is one of my favorites as well. I wanted to put those elements into the film but also treat it like I was filming a James Bond movie by going to exotic locations and getting lovely shots of cars driving along cliff edges and the ocean to make it look glitzy and glamorous. We wanted to make the world look appealing because it's a combination of danger, a combination of beautiful locations, sunshine, cars, and diamonds. I wanted to put some glitz and glamour into this underworld for a change. It wasn't to be too seedy.

Most of us, including myself, know you for directing iconic horror films such as The Descent and Dog Soldiers. What would you say to horror fans to get them to come and check out DUCHESS?

Neil Marshall: I always bring my horror sensibilities to whatever I do. When it comes to the crunch, there's certainly some violence in the film, and I don't hold back. That's when my horror sensibilities come through. These characters live in a violent world and this is the kind of stuff that goes down.

DUCHESS is now available on Digital and On Demand.