Clayface Review: A Dark, Disturbing And Refreshing Twist On The Superhero Genre

Clayface is the latest film from DC Studios, directed by James Watkins and co-written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Based on one of the more recognizable villains from the world of Batman comics, the film stars Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, David Dencik, Joshua James, Nancy Carroll and more.

Clayface tells the story of Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), a rising Hollywood actor whose life and career take a devastating turn after a violent encounter leaves him severely disfigured. Desperate to restore his appearance, reclaim his identity and regain control of his life, Matt turns to an experimental medical treatment that comes with some truly horrifying consequences. What follows is a bleak and disturbingly tragic story of desperation, obsession, love, vengeance and the gradual loss of one’s humanity.

Clayface takes a much different approach from the two previous films released by DC Studios. Rather than focusing on superheroes saving the day, the film explores a darker corner of the DC Universe through a story firmly rooted in horror. In fact, aside from the numerous references to Gotham, casual moviegoers unfamiliar with the character could easily mistake Clayface for an original horror film rather than a DC Comics adaptation.

The film explores how Matt Hagen’s pursuit of fame, fortune, respect and revenge leads him down an increasingly destructive path. While this DC villain-centered feature may not reach the same cinematic heights as 2019’s Joker, I nevertheless found it entertaining throughout its runtime!

Director James Watkins effectively establishes an eerie atmosphere that gradually builds toward full-blown horror. While watching Clayface, I found myself reminded of two older films from a similar narrative wheelhouse: 1986’s The Fly and 1990’s Darkman. Although these are distinctly different films with their own unique stories, all three blend horrifying physical transformations with tragic characters and themes of revenge.

To me, there is something refreshing about seeing a comic book property embrace this kind of old-school horror sensibility rather than relying on the familiar superhero formula. Even though the dialogue occasionally falters and the pacing is uneven in spots, Watkins’ interesting direction and bold vision help overcome the film’s shortcomings.

As far as the performances are concerned, Tom Rhys Harries is excellent in the lead role of Matt Hagen. He is particularly effective at conveying the character’s physical and emotional deterioration. His intense, often stoic performance adds a tragic and deeply human dimension to the character, grounding the film’s more outrageous horror elements.

In a supporting role, Naomi Ackie also delivers a strong performance as Caitlyn Corr, the scientist whose involvement in Matt’s experimental treatment becomes increasingly central to the story. While the rest of the cast does an adequate job of rounding out the film’s narrative, several supporting characters are essentially generic villain types who receive relatively little screen time or development.

In terms of the visual horror on display, Clayface makes a strong impression through its effective combination of practical and visual effects. The grotesque transformations and graphic imagery give the film a visceral edge, making its R rating feel well-earned. The body horror is particularly effective and disturbing whenever the movie fully embraces its gruesome nature. Throughout its runtime, the film delivers several unsettling and downright horrifying moments that fans of the genre should certainly appreciate. Overall, this film definitely isn’t for the squeamish!

Ultimately, I really enjoyed Clayface and look forward to seeing it again! However, it’s important to reiterate that this is not a traditional superhero film. Instead, Clayface is a body-horror and revenge tale that happens to be based on a DC Comics character.

While the film delivers plenty of horror-driven thrills, don’t go into it expecting the large-scale action or spectacle typically associated with comic book movies. I particularly appreciated the creative approach taken with this character, especially the decision not to transform him into a conventional antihero. Instead, Matt Hagen remains a true villain whose terrifying transformation grants him a range of clever and disturbing abilities.

That distinction is important because it allows the film to explore the character’s darker impulses without feeling obligated to make him heroic or particularly sympathetic. While its horror-driven identity may not appeal to everyone, I found the film to be a fun, entertaining and refreshing change of pace.

Overall, I believe Clayface is the best of the three films DC Studios has released so far. Its willingness to take creative risks, embrace a darker side of comic book storytelling and venture beyond the conventional superhero formula makes it well worth checking out!

Clayface is now playing in theaters everywhere and comes highly recommended, especially for fans of horror and darker comic book adaptations.

Enjoy!