You could say that we are huge fans of The Boondock Saints, but our love and reverence for Troy Duffy’s amazing cinematic and narrative achievement goes only so far. Sure, we have a Peacoat, and own the films on DVD, but that’s about where it ends. We never got matching tattoos, bought tons of shirts, or named our animals after the MacManus Brothers. That would be the actions of super fans, and to that, we salute you. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate enough to meet actors Sean Patrick Flannery, Norman Reedus, David Della Rocco, even Jeff Danna, who composed the amazing score to the film. Today, we were beyond delighted to have a fun, rousing, and in-depth chat with the man behind the beloved cult classic.
The only thing wrong with what Troy Duffy created is that there’s not more of it. After all, the world of crime knows no bounds, and so it’s easy to imagine the Saints would have their hands full at many a “scumbag yard sale.” But Duffy knows what he’s doing. It takes time to craft stories worth telling, and he’s not an author who is content simply connecting point A to point B.
What helped make his film and characters so engaging and memorable is that they are unexpected – both in set up and delivery, presentation and execution (yes, pun intended!). There is a lot of give-and-take with the likes of Connor, Murphy, even Rocco. Moreover, the dance between high stakes and big laughs is a delicate one that lets them go from the reverence of their now famous prayer to the cat scene…and they both work in the same movie.
We’ve waited a while since the film’s follow up in 2009 and we, the humble fans, have always been excited for more. Well, that brings us here. The real “Il Duce” of this universe has dropped a novel about the Brothers’ younger years and what brought them to Boston in the first place. This 608-page colossus gives a cool, captivating, and colorful prequel which dovetails into the cinematic adventures fans have come to know over the past 25 years.
One thing we’ve always loved about Duffy is how he frames his characters as well as the use and selection of words. In The Boondock Saints: Vol. 1 – Blood Origin, the writing jumps off the page and is just as intoxicating and weighty as his debut film. And it’s those little touches and flourishes that elevate what we already know in love about characters personified by the above-mentioned actors. Duffy is a treat to speak with, and it’s a good thing we didn’t have this discussion over a few pints, because we probably would’ve never left the bar.
During our talk, he shared how the characters have grown with him over the years. Some of that has been fueled by seemingly ceaseless fan questions, but if you ever wanted to know the official backstory to the two Irish Catholic brothers-turned-vigilantes, then Duffy has two huge spoonfuls to soothe those aching bones. And, to quote Flannery when we met him at Texas Frightmare long ago, “what’s a Boondock without a Roc??” Yeah, this story has their first encounter, and more.
A bucket list interview for sure, we were thrilled to speak to him about his passions, his prose, and his wonderfully charismatic creations. And, much like the title of the novel, we’re also calling this volume one – we really look forward to catching up with Troy again once the book has its official release. I know we’ll have lots more to talk about. And if you decide you’re not fond of Mr. Duffy‘s writing, that’s fair, but just know that we won’t like ya too much. Enjoy this episode of The GoSeeTalk Podcast Experience!
The Brothers Are Back.
Boondocks saints. Now in Audio. Raw. Unfiltered. Legendary.
In this gritty Boston crime thriller, the cult-classic Boondock Saints brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus fight their way from immigrant outcasts to vigilante legends, torn between justice and blood, faith and fury — saints or sinners … you decide.
Pre-order began on September 23rd. Click this link to get your copy from Amazon!
