If James Gunn’s Superman was for the classic superhero fans, James Watkins‘ Clayface is for the horror junkies.
Fittingly penned by Exorcist: Martyrs horror maestro Mike Flanagan and Drive scribe Hossein Amini, Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as the titular Batman villain, who starts off as rising actor Matt Hagen from humble Gotham City roots before he crosses the brutal mafioso Szabo (David Dencik).
After Szabo cuts up Matt’s face in one of many graphic scenes, the actor loses his career and just about everything else in his life. But when he discovers the groundbreaking nanotech research of Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), he convinces her to restore his face to its former glory, only to result in terrifying side effects and a bloody quest for revenge.
Following the upbeat hero’s story of 2025’s Superman, Gunn’s DCU plays with multiple genres in its latest outing, delivering a suspenseful body horror about a bright young star’s transformation into the iconic supervillain from Batman’s rogues’ gallery.
Harries’ undeniable chemistry with Ackie gives the movie a sexy rom-com element at times, before his charming infatuation grows into something darker and toxic, becoming the monster to her Dr. Frankenstein.
With the discovery of his new abilities, Matt is able to shape-shift into whoever he wants, adding a chilling element reminiscent of John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) the 1998 Denzel Washington thriller Fallen. It’s also played for laughs in one scene as Matt gets caught mid-transformation, sporting a little black dress and earrings.
Not only does Watkins nail the jump scares, but he spares no detail in the creative kills and graphic body horror scenes, the likes of which you’ll doubtfully see in Man of Tomorrow.
As Matt learns he can regenerate from even the most gruesome injuries, there’s also a Jason X quality to the horror of his super abilities.
The flick is sure to resonate in Hollywood as part of Matt’s journey takes place in the film industry of DC Comics’ LA surrogate, Coast City.
While the movie highlights the reality of corrupt cops who are in the wealthy’s pockets, as well as medical companies that prioritize cosmetic surgery advancements over life-saving discoveries, Clayface never preaches to its audience like previous DCU films might have been accused of doing.
Whether you’re a comic book nerd or a horror junkie, Clayface is worth the price of admission for its genre-driven approach to a lesser known character, hopefully serving as a roadmap for the DCU’s onscreen future.
Title: Clayface
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date: October 23
Director: James Watkins
Screenwriters: Mike Flanagan & Hossein Amini
Cast: Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie David Dencik, Max Minghella & Eddie Marsan
Rating: R
Running time: 1 hr 48 mins
English (US) ·