Movie Review: "Duchess" (2024)

Duchess Movie Review

Written by Stuart D. Monroe

Released by Vertigo Releasing

Directed by Neil Marshall

Written by Neil Marshall, Charlotte Kirk, and Simon Farr

2024, 114 minutes, Rated R

Released on August 12th, 2024

Starring:

Charlotte Kirk as Scarlett Monghan / Duchess

Philip Winchester as Robert McNaughton

Sean Pertwee as Danny Oswald

Hoji Fortuna as Billy Baraka

Stephanie Beacham as Charlie

Colm Meaney as Frank Monaghan

Colin Egglesfield as Tom Sullivan

Yan Tual as Victor

Melissa Laycy as MIchelle

Review:

I must open with a full-on confession: I’m not a big “action movie guy”. I don’t hate them by any stretch of the imagination, and I can certainly be charmed by the really cool ones (I’m looking at you, Guy Ritchie). However, this is Neil Marshall’s take on the slick, stylish British crime actioner, so I decided to go outside my usual box and take a stab at it.

Unfortunately, I was reminded why movies like this are generally not my cup of tea. Still, I don’t want to shit all over Duchess as there are some definite bright spots, so stay with me.

Scarlett Monaghan (Charlotte Kirk; The Lair) is a low-level pickpocket and petty criminal when she catches the eye of ex-Marine turned diamond smuggler Rob McNaughton (Philip Winchester; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). They fall madly in love, and Rob brings Scarlett into his world of big money deals, shootouts, and luxurious surroundings. He also has an entire cadre of cohorts at his disposal, so you can smell the double cross coming. Before you can say “You betrayed me!”, Rob is lying in the desert dead and Scarlett is left for dead. She reunites with the two friends who didn’t betray Rob: Cockney toughie Danny (Sean Pertwee; Dog Soldiers, Event Horizon) and African blade master Billy Baraka (Hoji Fortuna; That Dirty Black Bag). Now versed in the ways of the underworld, the newly-christened Duchess goes on a revenge tour to eliminate everyone involved in Rob’s death.

Admit it- you’d take the bait!

I’ll start off with the positives, shall I?

Charlotte Kirk (who also co-wrote with her partner, Marshall) goes absolutely for broke here. She’s physical as hell, dripping with sex appeal, and brings a believability and gravitas to the role that is truly the saving grace of the film (well, what saving grace there is). Sean Pertwee is reliable as always, and there’s even a cameo of sorts from one of my favorite Star Trek alums, Colm Meaney, in the role of Scarlett’s locked-up criminal father. It’s fair to say the casting is overall a highlight, as everyone fits their roles perfectly and makes the most of the material. Additionally, the violence and action are solid. The shootouts are wild and frenetic, and there’s even a surprisingly well-done disemboweling.

That being said, Duchess is possibly the most derivative Guy Ritchie knock-off I’ve ever seen. I get it- the cool British action film is a subgenre unto itself that’s highly formulaic. That’s not the major issue, though. The real problem is the 100% utter lack of originality in finding even one thing to do differently than superior films that came before it. Every character is introduced with a cool, snazzy name card and freeze frame. There’s the inevitable voiceover. Duchess herself is a prototype of the slim, sexy blonde action heroine who’s come into her own as a legit badass. It’s all stuff you’ve seen before.

As for pacing, the film takes around an hour to ratchet up the action and truly get going. The first half is all introduction and exposition on a dizzying slew of characters, most of whom don’t end up playing any kind of serious role (unless it’s as cannon fodder). The dialogue is, at times, on the cringy side and produces some unintended laughs at moments where there shouldn’t be any laughter. In short, it’s a literal cliche of an action film.

I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy myself at all. There is a mindless, hackneyed sort of fun about the whole affair. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that elevates Duchess past the point of being a middle-of-the-road action film that borrows extremely liberally from better films. I could elaborate further, but you get the idea.

Neil Marshall is responsible for two of my favorite horror films of the early 2000’s- Dog Soldiers and The Descent. I was hoping that Duchess would have that same impact in the action world, but it seems that what we’re left with is a Guy Ritchie clone that falls flat on its face, albeit with a fair amount of heart and enthusiasm.

Grade:

2.5 out of 5.0 stars