ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke to Lady Scorpions stars Cynthia Rothrock and Caitlin Dechelle. The duo discussed their roles in the action movie, the fight scenes, and more. The Tiger Style Media martial arts movie is now available to buy and rent on digital.
“An ex-FBI agent’s fight against a crime syndicate becomes personal when they kidnap her granddaughter. She and her daughter, both martial arts masters, form an unstoppable team. Together, they outmaneuver and defeat the syndicate’s henchmen in a calculated game of cat and mouse, on a relentless mission to save her and topple the criminal empire,” says the Lady Scorpions synopsis.
Tyler Treese: Cynthia, what about Lady Scorpions really attracted you to the project and got you on board?
Cynthia Rothrock: Well, interesting enough, Dan [Gross] wrote it a long time ago, and he sent me the script, oh gosh, I have to say more than 10 years ago. I really liked the script. I liked the fact that it was a woman’s team. I love the title Lady Scorpions because that came from a kick that I created for competition, the Scorpion Kick or the Rothrock Sting. So I love that. I always wanted to work with Dan, and then I met Shannon [McIntosh] and I loved her work.
Just the script was appealing to me. I’m very much for women power, and this was such a strong, dominant movie, where there’s two strong women fighting together. So, I think that’s probably what attracted me the most.
Caitlin, you can’t get a better co-star and somebody to be your on-screen mom than Cynthia. So what did it mean to be working with a legend like her?
Caitlin Dechelle: I was super excited. When Shannon McIntosh found me and sent me the script, I read through it. Kind of same as Cynthia. I was like, man, like women domination here in the martial arts realm. I didn’t even know it was her at first. Then I was like, “Who’s playing my mom? This would have to be someone that really fits the bill”. And they were like, “Oh, Cynthia Rothrock” And I was like, “Yep, okay.” This is great because we kind of come from the same competing martial arts background from back then. Then now, fast forward to her playing my mom in a film. I was so psyched. I was like this is gonna be awesome.
It is so wonderful seeing real martial artists starring in these films as well. Cynthia, your acting skills are also on display here. There’s a really interesting mother-daughter relationship that is explored. What did you like most about that?
Rothrock: Well, this is the first time I played a mom. I am a mother, my daughter is 25. So, I could relate to the bond that I have with my daughter, and it was a different acting experience for me because instead of portraying that love, that caring, it was almost hidden. I was more concerned in getting the guy that killed my husband and ruined our family. A lot of times I just wanted to [say] “I love you, I love you,” but I had to play this tough persona person until the end. Then in the end you see where she’s coming from. It was really there. So it was a different mindset for me to get into. I like that, when you have to go outside of what your normal personality or your persona would be is to create something different, like a little bit more tougher, a little stricter, you know?
Caitlin, you’re also in Kung Fu Games. Can you tell our readers a bit about that movie?
Dechelle: You’re gonna be in for a treat. Lady Scorpions was fantastic. Kung Fu Games was fantastic, but they are both such different films. Like in Lady Scorpions, having my mom, Cynthia, and then me having a daughter, which I don’t have a daughter in real life, I really had to, to pull and kind of grasp. It was different feelings, different levels of stakes with family consequences versus Kung Fu Games, [which is] more of the action-packed thriller where it’s more survival of the fittest and all these different fight scenes trying to escape what a criminal kind of has us locked into.
So you get two very different feels with the two films. Both have amazing fight scenes, both have amazing casts, so it’s hard to even pick a favorite. I don’t even think I can because they’re just both so different. There are different heartstrings in each film. Obviously Lady Scorpions with my daughter being kidnapped and everything that goes into that. You’re kind of taken in differently there. So I’m not gonna give away any spoilers, but you’re gonna have to watch both and end up telling me what your favorite is because they’re good.
Cynthia, I love your movie. Yes, Madam. It is just remarkable to see both you and Michelle Yeoh still kicking so much ass in these movies 40 years later. What do you attribute your remarkable staying power to? Because you still look great, and you’re still doing all these stunts. It’s incredible.
Rothrock: First of all, when you’re into martial arts for so long, it’s been my whole life, you adapt a healthy lifestyle. I’m very active, I do extreme adventure, I’m always positive. I love my life. I love what I do, and I think that has an impact on your physicality [and] on your appearance.
I just love the fact that Michelle and I, as you said, 40 years later, are still doing movies, look great, are as fit as ever, and can do the action the same. I think it’s such a positive inspiration for people all over the place. Because I’ve had people say, “Oh yeah, when I’m 40, I can’t do that,” or “50, no way.” It shows that you can, you just have to adapt a healthy lifestyle and have the right mindset. When people say, “I’m too old,” I hate that. I will never say that in my entire life. You will never hear that from me. Just to be an influence to people out there to learn martial arts and to do what you wanna do, you’re never too old.
Caitlin, how was it working with the director Bruce Del Castillo and seeing his style?
Dechelle: Bruce was absolutely so much fun as a director. I just feel like all of our vibes on set between Cynthia and me in different scenes; he had such a creative eye and specific want for some of these scenes that he envisioned and just saw throughout. So, it was amazing working with him, and good to learn. I feel like we learned a lot throughout the process, just from in the beginning in our table read to then eventually being on set and being in it and doing it.
Bruce was great. The whole team was great. Obviously, working with Cynthia was great. I’m super excited for everyone to see the film and kind of just see what all of us put together. It not that long of a time period because we didn’t shoot for very long, but I think we came up with something really amazing. So, yes, I’m super excited, and Bruce is fantastic. I can’t wait for everyone to see what he created and envisioned for Lady Scorpions.
