Graham McTavish, known for his role as War Clan Chieftain Dougal MacKenzie in Outlander, has shared details about his new venture beyond the Starz series.

The 65 year old actor is set to portray a starkly contrasting character in his upcoming film Dirty Boy. The movie spins a dark narrative around Isaac (played by Stan Steinbichler), a reclusive schizophrenic raised by a cult, now framing him for a string of ritualistic murders.

Isaac must uncover the truth about his real parents and vindicate himself before time runs out, all while battling obstacles from both the cult and his alter-ego Frankie.

McTavish embodies the menacing cult leader Walter Wentworth, the patriarch of the religious group who manipulates everything behind the scenes.

In an exclusive chat with Reach Screen Time, McTavish revealed he was “immediately drawn” to Doug Rao’s script, who also directed Dirty Boy, reports the Scottish Daily Express.

While some might categorise Dirty Boy as a “horror”, McTavish said it’s “much more than that”, likening it to a psychological thriller. He added: “But it’s very disconcerting, very disturbing and you just keep feeling like something really bad is about to happen.”

Having portrayed numerous villains throughout his career, including in The Witcher, McTavish ranks Dirty Boy’s Walter among the most despicable due to his irredeemable traits, even drawing parallels with the infamous American child sex offender and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

“There are parallels you could draw with a character like Wentworth with Jeffrey Epstein and that kind of world. Epstein didn’t create a cult, but that sort of giving yourself permission to do anything and feeling that there will be no consequences, and that’s what people like Wentworth do,” McTavish explained.

He further commented on how individuals like Epstein would “rationalise” their actions into a “story they tell themselves”, labelling this as the “root of evil”.

Unlike some of his past villainous characters, the actor confessed finding it “hard to justify anything he’s doing”, making the role “very difficult” to portray.

Reflecting on one of the most unsettling scenes in Dirty Boy, McTavish recalled the moment when Walter gazes at himself in a mirror while awaiting cult member Hope (Honor Gillies) before a sex ritual.

“It’s very creepy. He’s not looking in the mirror to see if he has any blemishes, he’s just staring at himself, like that phrase ‘staring into the abyss’,” he remarked.

Dirty Boy was shot back in 2023 amidst the breathtaking scenery of Lake Grundlsee in Austria, the picturesque setting starkly contrasting the sinister events unfolding in the foreground.

Joining McTavish, Dirty Boy also features Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar and Wentworth Prison actress Susie Porter, Olivia Chenery of Penny Dreadful and Queen fame, Hetty Feather’s Ava Merson-O’Brien, along with Ruaridh Aldington, Heidi Rolph-Stott, Alice Lucy, Katharina Scheuba, and Michael Kodi Farrow.

The independent film makes its UK debut at the Raindance Film Festival this weekend, before gracing cinemas in August.

McTavish is currently occupied with various projects, including two films, his Bourbon brand McTavish Spirits, and a role in Starz’s sequel series Spartacus: House of Ashur, set to premiere this autumn.

Dirty Boy has its UK Premiere at Raindance Film Festival on June 22 and is in UK Cinemas from 22nd August

Outlander season 7 is available to buy now on Digital and is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now