Clayface Review
Clayface is at its best when it embraces its B-movie absurdity. It’s a fun body horror romp that realizes its nasty potential in its final act after a slow-burn set-up.
Clayface premiered in North America on October 23 and made its international debut on October 21. The 2023 film initially struggled to find its footing, but ultimately delivers a visceral and entertaining body horror experience. Director James Watkins pays homage to the '50s and '60s hardboiled revenge thrillers, '80s and '90s cult classics, and the DC Comics character upon which it is based.
The screenplay, written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, follows rising actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), a Gotham City native whose gritty background mirrors that of actor Mark Wahlberg. After Matt faces brutal disfigurement at the hands of Gotham’s most ruthless crime lord, Markos Szabo (David Dencik), he seeks Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie)’s experimental nanobot regenerative treatment.
While Caitlyn’s research has been stolen by her former colleagues, she reluctantly agrees to help Matt. At first everything seems promising, but the film quickly reveals that Caitlyn’s nanobots have unleashed a darker side of Matt, transforming him into a monstrous creature. As Matt turns into something truly terrifying, the film embraces its absurdity, providing plenty of darkly funny and thrilling sequences.
The creative team, led by Watkins, employs Matt’s shapeshifting abilities to create clever and tense moments. Although Batman isn’t mentioned in the film, a scene set at the Wayne Community Centre hints at its connection to the DC Universe. Clayface proves that the DCU can offer more than just superhero battles and grand saving-the-world narratives.
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