In 2002, with little or no fanfare from the press, a low-budget British horror film with the rather confusing title of "Dog Soldiers" opened and bacame a cult hit. The director, Neil Marshall, himself largely an unknown, went on to win several horror festival awards for his werewolf film but he wasn't done with horror fans yet. Far from it. In 2005, gathering many of the same actors and crew he worked with on "Dog Soldiers", Marshall created "The Descent". Possibly one of the most frightening films in many years, "The Descent" preyed on such universal fears as claustrophobia, insanity, death, the dark and cemented Marshall as a unique horror visionary as well as an official member of The Splat Pack. Now, in 2008, Marshall has again come up with a film which hits upons universal fears - the breakdown of society, the end of the world and a few other nasties. "Doomsday", which opens in the US on March 14th, again stars many of the actors Marshall has continued to use throughout his career: Craig Conway, Les Simpson, MyAnna Buring, Nora-Jane Noone as well as Malcolm McDowell and Bob Hoskins. Bloody-Disgusting recently spoke with Marshall about "Doomsday", the largest-budgeted film he has had to date, how the idea for the story came to him, why this is not a zombie movie and his opinion on PG-13 horror.

BD: Hello Neil and thank you for taking time to talk to Bloody-Disgusting. Now, I have seen the trailer for "Doomsday" and it looks amazing. Obvious question but where did the idea for the film come from?

NM: I grew up in the North of England, in Newcastle, which is near Hadrian's Wall, and then moved across the country to what was, in effect, the other end of Hadrian's Wall, Carlisle. I always used to wonder what circumstances would have to come into play to cause that wall to be rebuilt. To, in effect, block off an entire country. And I also had this image stuck in my head of medieval knights battling modern day soldiers. That is the basic genesis of "Doomsday".

BD: There are so many homages to other films in "Doomsday", something you're becoming quite known for - the wink and a nod to your favourite films - that fans could almost play a drinking game every time they recognized an homage. I picked up on "Mad Max", "Escape from New York", "Aliens", "Excalibur", "Apocalypse Now" and, in some of the Marauder scenes, if Sam McCurdy will forgive me, I was reminded of some Nine Inch Nails videos. Also, many people are saying "Doomsday" sounds like another "28 Days Later". How conscious were you, when writing the script, that all of these classic movies would have another "moment in the sun"?

NM: I've been hearing all that about "28 Days Later" but that was not in my mind when I was writing. The virus in "Doomsday", the Reaper virus, merely sets the scene. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" was another film I give a nod and a wink to at the very beginning of my film. I wear those homages on my sleeve when I start writing - those are the kinds of films I would want to see again and if people get the homages, great.

And Sam wouldn't mind that Nine Inch Nails comparison. He'd love it!

BD: The Reaper Virus - great pains have been taken to make fans understand that this is not a zombie movie or even something like the "rage virus" from "28 Days Later". Victims of the Reaper virus stay dead and die rather gruesomely, so I understand. How much research did you and Paul Hyett do on diseases and what instructions did you give Paul about what you wanted?

NM: I told Paul to avoid the zombie look at all cost - just make these people look very ill. As for the research, I let Paul handle all of that. He concentrated on skin diseases, sexually-transmitted diseases, really disgusting stuff. The Reaper virus is almost like Ebola - you die within 24 hours. And it's a nasty way to go.

BD: You have again assembled an amazing cast with quite a few familiar faces from "Dog Soldiers" and "The Descent". How did you bring Bob Hoskins and Malcolm McDowell aboard and is there any truth to the rumor that you originally wanted Sean Connery for the Kane character?

NM: I had had Bob in mind for ages as the grizzled father-figure to Rhona Mitra's character and Malcolm is just so supurb at playing characters teetering on the edge of controlled psychosis. I loved talking with Malcolm between takes - he is an amazing ranconteur. He had just wrapped Rob Zombie's "Halloween" when he and Bob were approached to come on board. They were both just offered their roles and they both said "yes" - they were that excited to be a part of the project. As for the Sean Connery rumor, that's all it is. There was some discussion of offering him the Kane part, "King of Scotland" and all, but nothing ever got beyond the discussion stage.

BD: I was also told something about the ending of the film having to be reshot. Any truth to that or are people confusing film terms again?

NM: Sounds like confusion over film terms - there was additonal shooting, which every film usually has, as well as pickup shots but nothing had to be "redone".

BD: Once again you are working with your favourite crew: DP Sam McCurdy, Production Designer Simon Bowles, SFX Artist Paul Hyett and everyone's favourite, 1st AD, Jack Ravenscroft. Can you imagine ever doing a movie without these guys? And that goes for actors Craig Conway and Les Simpson too.

NM: I don't like to even THINK about doing a movie without these guys! They are my support line. We have such great camaraderie and we all like to work fast, especially Sam and Jack. And yes, I have named a character in a future film after Jack. How could I not? What a great name! As for Craig and Les, it was great to give them something with which they could really stretch their acting legs after having to squeeze them in to "The Descent" as Crawlers. Craig REALLY stretches his legs here as Sol, Kane's son.

BD: You started shooting "Doomsday" a little over a year ago (February 9, 2007) in Cape Town, South Africa and you finished shooting in May in the UK. How grueling was this shoot compared to previous ones?

NM: I really thought working with all of the extras would be terrifying but that turned out to be the easiest. Craig performed for over 800 people over the course of two nights - one night the camera was on the crowd reacting to Craig and the second night, the camera was on Craig who was definitely in his element.

BD: You had a budget of approximately $30 million which is still small by Hollywood standards. But, it looks like every penny is on the screen. Would that be a fair assessment?

NM: I believe in putting as much on the screen as possible. Push the envelope with the money. We got great value in South Africa which was great as I love huge, orchestrated action scenes. There was very little CGI. We used matte paintings, compositing, etc. instead.

BD: This is definitely an "R"-rated movie so can horror fans look forward to lots of grue and gore? And would you agree with the categorization of "Doomsday" as a sci-fi movie?

NM: I think horror fans will be quite happy - we have some cannibalism, a few decapitations, someone run over with a tank. Paul Hyett told me that more blood and guts were used in "Doomsday" than in "The Descent" but that it was more spread out through "Doomsday". As for the "sci-fi" tag, I see "Doomsday" as a hybrid of so many things besides just sci-fi.

BD: What is next for Neil Marshall?

NM: Hopefully, my dream project. "Eagle's Nest". My version of the Indiana Jones action films, except my Indiana Jones would be named Jack Ravenscroft. Now that the WGA strike is over, whoever wants to take a look at the script is welcome.

BD: What is your opinion on the state of horror today? All of the remakes and the PG-13 films?

NM: I think some of the remakes have been amazing. Aja's "The Hills Have Eyes" remake was great - it went so much further than the original which seems so dated now when I watch it. And remember, John Carpenter's "The Thing" was a remake. So not all remakes should stop but people are now "remaking" films that are less than 10 years old. And there are some movies, "Escape from New York" come to mind, that I can't imagine queueing up for when I can watch the original. I suppose it's a matter of personal taste.

Now PG-13 horror - who is it appealing to? It's pointless. Hardcore fans don't want watered-down horror and kids want to see something they're not supposed to!

BD: What is one thing no one knows about Neil Marshall that you think they should?

NM: I absolutely love the TV show "Cheers".