In conversations with HeyUGuys, British acting legend Eddie Marsan, director Barnaby Roper, and actor Burn Gorman discussed All The Devils Are Here, a new British crime drama that consciously channels the spirit of classic gangster films.
Set in a pre-digital, early ’80s world, the story follows four men trapped in a hell of their own making. Stripped of modern conveniences like mobile phones, the narrative leans on tension, character dynamics, and atmosphere reminiscent of The Long Good Friday, Get Carter, and Mona Lisa.
Marsan plays Ronnie, an old-school gangster committed to traditional codes of honour while confronting a ruthless younger generation. He said the script reminded him of the gangster films he grew up watching, where characters carried both menace and morality.
His performance drew inspiration from Bob Hoskins, though not as an imitation—more as a spiritual reference to that era’s grounded, conflicted anti-heroes. Ronnie is calm, professional, and experienced, but simmering with controlled violence. Marsan praised John Patrick’s script for its clarity, while also highlighting the film’s striking soundtrack—particularly the use of Cilla Black—which deepened its uniquely British identity.
Director Barnaby Roper explained that the project was inspired by both British gangster classics and Ealing comedies, mixing grit with a touch of theatricality. He and writer John Patrick deliberately staged the story like a chamber piece, recalling 12 Angry Men and Lifeboat, with much of the drama confined to a detailed hideout set. Roper drew on imagery from the Great Train Robbery, aiming for a sense of authenticity down to the wallpaper and tiles.
Burn Gorman, who plays one of the misfit characters, noted how the collaboration between actor, director and costume designer shaped his role’s physicality. He described his performance as a blend of menace and dreamlike vulnerability, particularly in scenes where the character slips into a balletic, intoxicated state. Gorman compared the heightened style of these characters to the hyper-real performances of Alec Guinness and Alastair Sim, citing Sim as a personal influence for his ability to shift between power and fragility in an instant.
Together, Marsan, Roper, and Gorman emphasised that All The Devils Are Here is more than nostalgia. It revives a style of British crime storytelling that reveals uncomfortable truths about society and the human condition.
