straight on. Hi everyone and welcome to the Nodio North podcast. It's a Nodio podcast and it's hosted by Northern Nodes. I am one of your hosts Sam.
And I am the other host Paul. And joining us today, we have a very special guest for a very special episode. He is the Northeast of very on, he's a director, editor, producer and screenwriter, giving us great hits like dog soldiers, the descent and the reckoning. Today he joins us to tell us all about his latest movie Duchess, Nodio North is so happy to welcome back to the podcast Neil Marshall.
Hello. So, very very nice to have you back as well. Thank you so much for that little introduction as well. Sami Bursa.
So yes, you've been extremely busy Mr. Marshall, that's how we say it. We'll eat to get a screen of your movie last night as well. So we got to check it out before the release comes out next week on the 9th of August.
Duchess, which you directed and core wrote as well. So, you're very busy on this one I take it. I did it as well. I did notice everything in Wikipedia was all green on this one.
You pretty much covered everything. Did I start off with Neil? How did Duchess come about? So, although it's the third film that I've made with Charlotte, it was the film that we kind of came up with.
So, back in 2018, we were just having a conversation about gangster movies and all that. I can't remember which one of us came up with at first, but somebody said, what if we did a female Scarface? Right. And kind of the seed was planted then.
And so that developed into a story, which then developed into a script, spent the next few years working on that script while then going off and making the reckoning and then lock up on and then making the lair. So, finally got into a position where we were able to get it made in 2020. Wait, when we watched it back last night, that was what was my big thing. It was like a proper gangster feel.
It was almost, it almost sounds weird because it had like London accents. But it was almost like a little bit grimy as well. It was filmed in the north east and like say, as brutal as it would be up north shall we see it. But it was nice because it didn't pull me punch just certainly not.
It is brutal to watch through. Actually, I did enjoy it. One thing I did know was from the film as well is the look and the colours and the tones and stuff. It was absolutely beautiful.
Is that something that you purposely went out because it's a big contrast and change from the other movies that you've made as well? Yeah, I mean, it's weird. It's a summary point out. It's the first film I've done that's kind of set in the real world.
Right. So, yeah, don't I get it? John Allen to it. Oh, historical.
It's like set today in a version of the real world. So, but yeah, myself and the DP Simon wanted to give it a vibrant look. Both like heavily influenced by cinemas, cinema from the 70s as well. So, like in terms of some of the captions and then the music as well, given a real kind of 70s gangster vibe, it's drive around in a jag.
It's like, you know, it's like, Sweeney, that kind of stuff. So, it was like giving it a very British flavour, very 70s flavour also because a lot of British films are kind of quite dull. I wanted this to look like a real movie. We shot it in anamorphic.
It's a white screen. Give it this amazing colour palette, which is really rich and vibrant and look gorgeous. No, Chris. And I know, like, now you've said it, I get hit so much with the 70s vibe now.
I got to mix it in. One thing I did want to mention as well, because I know on the last interview you did with Sammy and Dan, you mentioned that actually one of the big things that you do love is the Bond franchise and stuff. Now, going back to that, the visuals and the car chases and even like the gun play and the budget, it felt it had a very Bond feel to it. So, is that something that you kind of took influence as well as well?
Massively. I'm glad you noticed that because yes, it was like an opportunity to go and do shots of cars driving along beautiful cliffs, tops over the ocean. It felt very, very fond. Also, I think the character of Rob is sort of like an anti-James Bond, you know, because he's like, he's got the looks and he looks great in a suit and he's can handle himself in the action, all kinds of stuff.
But he is, John Tensor Pipps, he's a criminal. So, so I, but I love, I love bringing that kind of blitz and glamour and sort of James Bond edge to it, especially when she went to Skahla, it makes the move down to Tenerife and things, which is also like going off into this world and meeting these kind of super-villain stuff like that, which was very Bond-like and secret layers and stuff. Yeah, definitely wanted to give it a Bond flavour. When I was editing it, I used a lot of John Barry on the soundtrack.
I did absolutely love Charlotte's progression throughout the whole movie. I love the fact that she was, she figured things out as she kind of went along and you could see that thought process. Nothing was perfect. This was the first time she'd been flung into this world.
I wonder from like a writing perspective, did Charlotte write Charlotte or did Neil write Charlotte? So, I mean, I always do the physical writing, but like, well, some ideas back was in towards constantly. But yeah, Skahla kind of evolved from- Oh, that's it. Sorry.
I can't find Charlotte. It's probably why this role is like closest to Charlotte's name, but I mean, the character itself is like, you know, she comes from the east end of London. And so we started from that foundation, which is Charlotte, and then built on all the character from that, you know, because the rest of it isn't, you know, Charlotte does not box. You did in that, Lord.
You look fantastic. She had to learn that from the ground up. Same with the shooting guns and stuff, you know. I didn't want to make her some like, super-spy first time in the story, it's kind of the first time that she's handling guns and things like that.
So, it's a case of like going out and practicing and learning all that stuff from the ground. She never did anything like that. Movies before. Mm-hmm.
It's interesting. It's such as never done anything like that. Because you couldn't tell what's this movie. Like the action sequences and like I said, the brutality, like even throwing a punch, like everything's saying like ultra realistic, which does come across with most of your movies.
Now, just hop and back to a little point that you made that you said this is a movie that's basically set in the real world, whatever. I can see crossover factors in this movie with other movies. You don't, I would love to see the Duchess vs. Dog's orders.
That would be an interesting thing. You can combine the elements in a way. I think maybe she'd do a highlight in Scotland sometime. It's a Tuesday.
I think I'll be going. Yes. Oh, sorry. Me brain just went in the overdrive there.
I love doomsday. Absolutely. That was such a ride of a movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Do you know what? I've thrown myself because I can't believe I got any wrong. I've done this twice now with two people that I've interviewed. It's so similar.
Sorry. It's not all you're calling the book, but it's fine. Well, yes. One thing I did do is for this film and I know with every movie studio or with the making films, the looking for the next franchise, this movie felt very much like an origin story, like a setting up for an all not to get spoilers and we get the end piece and like say moving on from then.
But this seems like such an interesting story or interesting character that you want to know what's next. So is that something that's kind of in mind? Is this kind of a, I know you're not really like a franchise, like when you do a movie, I don't know how many people have any conditions of beg for dog soldiers too. But this one does feel like it could move into like bracket of a franchise.
Oh, believe me, I would love to have a franchise if, you know, if it's always people too. It's not always straightforward. Is that if the film is successful or a franchise, sure, I always wanted to do a doomsday sequel, you know, like something like that. Continue that as a TV series or something.
Anyway, this one, it was like, yeah, I mean, I think it's always in the back of your mind, but you don't want to hex it. So I think it was like, at some point, like Charlotte wanted to write on the script, you know, part one. You don't have to take it just yet then. Yeah, it was okay to do with like Kill Bill because he'd already shot the second half.
So it's like, that's happened. But this one, it's like, no, no, don't hex this. What is a standalone film? Make sure it is.
It doesn't, it's, I don't want to make a film that is purely there, that exists only to set up a sequel. No, yeah. It covers full circle. And then yes, you know, your imagination has no limits.
It's the way it could possibly go in the future. But we'll see how this one does. Yeah, I think that's one of the Northern in you as well. It's kind of like, oh, we'll keep it like this.
We'll not get too excited. We'll not try and push our luck. It's very anti-Hollywood. Thank you.
Yeah. I got to congratulate you on having Stephanie Beacham say some of the greatest lines in this movie. I was not expecting it. And when it happened, I was like, oh my god, how was it like to work with Stephanie Well, I mean, listening to us well, like a trooper is hilarious.
It's brilliant. Yeah, I mean, she didn't hesitate with the language. It was all in the script. And she was like, and she does it so well.
Yeah, no, she was fabulous. I mean, it was just like having an icon on set, you know, in one thing or another throughout my whole life. And it's just like, she's fabulous. She's still got that presence.
Yeah. So yeah, coming in and doing that role with that dialogue. And the other stuff that she does was like, she's, I think my favorite line is when she gets on the one and she's like, like I'm not going to say that we'll try and keep this one clean. But yeah, her response to that was just absolutely breathy.
But as you said, she just has that type of presence that never goes away. Totally. Yeah. And if you talk about Bon Villains, she that will perfect.
Like, if you got her as a Bond villain, I would have you have yourself was like, I wanted to have a character that showed where this is like West Scarlet would end up with you. That's the future Scarlet. She's cool character. But that's it.
I was kind of itching that she would. I wanted to be in that position. The stuff that she was willing to do was even was unreal. Yeah.
Yeah. She may. Yeah, too. No, again, like it's very much just like an origin story of revenge.
So it's only different complex elements to this movie as well, which actually we tried taking it in just like watching it on on our laptop last night. So we will have like one of the things that comes out next week. So I'll probably support the pictures of the wife to say because she couldn't watch it unfortunately. Just explain something because it felt like a big screen like experience needed to be for this one as well.
I mean, I'll say I shot it cinematically. It's animal, it's like, I want it to be seen on the big screen. And I think audience movie is one of the audience was how fun with it. Yeah.
I've not seen it with the public. But we did have a couple of screenings. And one thing came across was that women were really, really responding to it as much as the men. But like in a big way, like they grew to tell that character in a big way.
Absolutely. I can understand that point. There was certain parts of it where I was like getting up moving like I was moving. My emotions went along with her.
You mentioned all those things saying it was an action movie in this it was also a love story. And oh my god, the love story was a rob and solid. Oh, I want I don't say I want that because I'm in a very long time relationship. I just love the way that they communicated with each other.
It was very real incredibly real. I don't recognize the person reality and just a couple who are just incredibly comfortable with each other. Yeah, no, no, no, come across. One person I do want to mention because I thought it was an absolute stand out in this movie.
I love them in anything it does. Like I actually can tell I'm a big nerd. So anytime I say the name Sean per tree on any type of anything, it lights my heart with so much joy. But I know some was excited as well for specific reason.
You didn't kill him in this movie. So I'm here. Oh, so happy. No, that's a big twist.
Yeah. No, I don't know. I even wrote that down. I mean, I was like, thank him for Sean.
That's the big twist in this movie. I don't kill up. Nobody's expecting him to make it to the end of the movie. No, no, no, it's getting to work with Sean as I get to work with you best mate.
And it's the fourth work together. I always like to go with something different to do and the big difference in this one is he lives. It seemed like he was having so much fun with this character as well. Like, I was when he was in, I thought it was like, the first half, you'd normally get much of his personality.
He's just like a gunman against it. But when he starts, like, he's getting deep into him. Oh my God. You've realized why you love Sean, Sean, pervy as an actor and as a performer, because he can take, like, he can lift anything.
And like, I said, it's a small side part of being a hitman. But as a hitman with a heart in the way as well, it's perfect. And again, I say, thank you for having me. Hey, man, and Hoggi, who plays what we team together.
And I really like the fact that they become very protective of Scarlet. You know, they become like, yeah, I don't like that. The family element to it. It was such a family element to it.
But it was like a kind of instant connection, like instant gravitation to each other. And the chemistry between everyone was just sort on point. Yeah. That was a good one.
Pretty good. But you were talking about, like, say, with doomsday doing a doomsday TV show. And again, I'm sorry to get ahead of myself. I would love to see a TV show, which is them too, as like a side thing, just saying what, what how do you match what they go up to?
And what happened after them? Like, just like going about their business. Like, I think that would just be a fun story to tell. And really, just like characters you want to hang out with you.
Exactly. That was what this film is. Maybe I know it's, as you said, setting the real world, but it's like, it's an extreme, like, chemistry, a type of thing in crime. And what seems like, I said, there's been a lot of type of movies or TV shows that's been set in the type of feel like, I know we just like, not to say a comparison, but the gentleman TV show that came on Netflix, not too long ago, it had similar vibes and feels.
But it's, I said, in that world, their world is a little bit more cartoon to yours. But still, it has that type of like language and like brutality, which we're getting now on the screen. And it seems to be like, especially as a British, like, filmmaker, like yourself, it's great to see and like have like, not just like all these American gangsters are American stuff come out, where sort, unbelievable, nor the top, where when these films have a little bit more grounded, it's more enjoyable for us, because we could probably say, no, probably not in the North East, where we travel down to London, there's probably just gangsters are guys that like, talk and act like this in a certain way. Definitely, definitely.
And that's probably awesome gangsters in the North East as well. For sure. You know, each region has its own gangsters, I'm sure. And surely, we know the kind of classic company gangsters who have seen it, it's all good, it's time for some other dancers.
What a jolly gangster. Got plans. Letting things out now, letting things out. As we said this, you are very busy, man.
Like, say, this movie comes out next week. I believe the London premiere is on Monday, is that right? Screen, the screen is on Monday. I think it's the screen coming out.
I think, okay. No, no, no. You just pause just letting stuff slip now. I can't even say, I'm in the North East, I can't get London.
I'm sorry. I don't know. There may well be screening or something. I'm not sure.
All right. No, that's fine. I don't know. I don't know.
No, but I know you've got a movie coming out quite soon as well after this. I've got the new movie now. Well, we've shot it last year. It's a cool compulsion.
I don't know when it's coming out yet because it hasn't been picked up by distributors. So, like, we're literally just about to start entering it in festivals. That's from there. But yeah, that's still early days on that one hasn't got to release date.
I'm guessing next year sometimes. Other things I did notice in this movie as well, because I know when people say the name of Marshall, it goes hand in hand with some of the classic horror movies that we've seen, like the Modern Horrors. There was that type of element in this movie, especially in the violence and exist under the tortures scenes. It's nice to say that you're not letting go to the horror roots as well just yet.
Yeah. I always bring my horror sensibilities to the product I'm doing. I think that's been prevalent in everything I've done. So, yeah, if I'm going to do violence, I'm going to go, yeah.
It's going to be a challenge. But yeah, I mean, I think it becomes more fun for the audience when there's a lot of satisfaction to be got from the violence. I mean, Tarantino does that all the time. He knows.
He knows. He knows. So, yeah, it's fun. Yeah, you see that though, because I know my co-host is a horror thing, like with the Do In The Monsters podcast.
I am the big softie of the podcast. When it comes to blood go, I am the one that hides behind the pillow. And my wife likes to rip the piss out of me so much time, just simply because I can't watch, like I say blood. I want to go with appeal.
So, yeah, so this one, the horror sensibilities, I loved it. I was like, I love where, how far you go. There's one scene as well with Sean and again, not to give spoilers. When he's got his hands stuck somewhere, it's just all brutal.
Like. Yeah, so much of that is to do with the idea of what's happening on what you're actually seeing as like, just getting a mirror is pretty gnarly. I'm a big fan of that as well. I can go back to the kickle, I always say about the Texas Chainsaw mask, and there's very little blood and very little actual say things.
Just say it's all noise and shapes and sounds that they do get around. I think that's a lost art with a lot of filmmaking as well. So when you bring that element back, it then has more of an impact, especially if on a newer audience that hasn't really experienced it as much. Yeah, definitely.
And I've got a pitch for you. So I've been threatened to tell me that I was going to do this because we had Ian White on as well and I did tell him the idea as well. He wasn't as enthusiastic as I thought he would be. So because I know when you're on the monsters, you're told us that you love the old universal horror monsters, like, say, and I do think at the moment we are in need of a kind of a revamp or a reboot of them, a classic characters.
Well, it's with a twist because after seeing the movie Renfield with Nicholas Cage as Dracula, I would love to say the monster universe with Nicholas Cage playing every single monster. Like, having been the wolf man, having been the creature from the Black Lagoon, I would say this would be a license to print money. So it'd be the Nicholas Cage universe, not the universe. So the Cage monster universe, I think we'll go for it.
Yeah, I mean, I think that sounds pretty fantastic. How are we going to make that? Yeah, I'm actually a lot of people. I never reached out and actually take the Nick Cage possibly because he seems to be in a lot of movies.
I'd also say Cage playing, you know, the creature in Frankenstein or that. That's sick. You have to play both of our time. You could actually be the creature like Frankenstein's monster and Frankenstein the scientist just have them playing off each other would be.
You would be more enthusiastic than Ian was. Yeah, you'll play Igor as well. I mean, you can play Nick. You can just play.
It works. It works. It's a really good concept. He was really excited to pitch this to you by the way.
Well, I do like the idea. I would watch it. Right. So that's good enough for me.
I'm happy with that now. So yes, sorry. You're happy now. Yes, I'm buzzing with that one now.
So yes. So, like I said, with the cast that's in this movie, everyone was at some point. It's a very modern take on the gangster feel, especially with the tones that we normally get. It's very different from the type of movies that we've got from you in the past.
And just hoping as well that you're not going to leave the horror genre. Like say, that's going to be fully going back to that at some point, hopefully. No, definitely. I think I'll always have one foot in the horror genre somewhere and I've got a couple of projects that are proving that take me firmly back there for sure.
Certainly. Oh, I can say. Em, I can say stuff. No, anything else you want to ask for, Sammy?
No, I was. It was more. I was. It was a lot to take in when we're watching this movie, a lot to take in.
And I was just, I was really enthralled by Scarlett, right? And I loved her character development. I loved Stephanie Beachem. It was just perfect.
The whole 80. You are so brilliant at bringing cast together and having such a family feel, even if there is conflict, there is still chemistry there. And I know I've talked to her about that on Monster's before. What's it about?
Yeah, I managed to put together a really cool ensemble cast. And they were very close. She won an OG in Fulf, a really tight friendship when we were filming. And I think I came across on screen as well.
So yeah. Yeah, you do it so brilliantly. But no, I have nothing more on this movie. No, the only thing I've got to ask as well, like Sam's co-host Dan did actually send his message to ask you a question as well.
Because I think you want to be able to be at a convention soon. I think she'll be working. So you might see a little. He said she's going to come and say hello.
It's a little hurdle headed. So how did to make these movies compare as like direct and the big Hollywood blockbusters as well? I know you probably have a little bit more control. Is there a big difference for me?
Like is there your own movies where you're in full control to the Hollywood style? Yeah, I mean, the big difference is less time, less money, more control. Whereas not only movies, the whole opposite, lots of money, lots of time, zero control. But at least for help, but anyway.
But yeah, I do think it was a bit different because that kind of was a studio movie, but we made it in there and we were iffy with so I got much full control on that one. But it was like to get started as it was relatively a little budget by studios. So with these ones, it's like, you know, you're making films for under five million and finding to get as much out of that money as possible. But it's like make off, not have it.
How much you'd like and not be on the first but you get somehow or other. No, definitely. And I can see if this movie was made for under five million. I don't know how you've done that.
That's impressive. Yes, just throwing everything at the screen. Yes. So if anyone's listening, the movie is out in the cinemas on the 9th of August.
I believe it's coming to digital download as well. On the 12th of August. The 12th of August. As I said, get the pictures to say this.
It is highly recommended just for a phone ride. Especially if you're kind of like almost like some of these kind of like cop shows or like as we mentioned, GM's Bond, like Roger Miller style, I think the vibe I got from this. Oh, you're in your bond films. Definitely.
Some of the best cartridges and action set pieces are set up as well. And just to say it to hear Stephanie Bayshym swear, that's probably the tag like you need to put on. You've watched this movie to say Stephanie Bayshym say of certain words. So well.
Yes. But thank you so much for joining us, Neil. Thanks, thank you, Neil. Again, I know as a fanboy, you don't know how much it means.
Especially if I say a Northern lad and saying how well you're doing. And like I said, keep that in the Northern like say pride for us as well. So thank you so much. So anything you want to add before we go down there?
I think so. Just just yeah. Good. Other and support touches.
Yes. It's funny because he's supporting independent British films. Yes. And I thought we need more of as well because I'm fair enough we get big blockbusters where everyone raves about as well.
But it's the independence and without a fair die out, like say the movie industry can't grow and can't like say, can't get classics out there as well. Yes. Very much so. So thank you, Sammy.
And thank you. So same by time. Same by channel. Stay nerdy everyone.
Bye.