After two upbeat films to begin the reboot of the DC universe, “Clayface” was a major tonal shift. Aiming for a darker, gorier result, Director James Watkins delivered one of this year’s strongest films.
One of the most anticipated horror films this year, “Clayface” follows Oscar-nominated actor Matt Hagen as Tom Rhys Harries after a run-in with a Gotham City crime boss leaves his face permanently disfigured, ending his career and leaving him living in poverty.
Hagen seeks out an experimental treatment, and after overdosing on his medication, his body begins to transform.
This film is one of the greatest body horror films of all time while also doubling as a strong psychological thriller.
While Clayface is not scary in the traditional sense of the term with jump scares or ax murderers, it is extremely uncomfortable to watch.
Writers Mike Flanagan, known for “The Life of Chuck” and “Gerald’s Game,” and Hossein Amini, known for “Drive,” were clearly inspired by projects such as “The Fly” and the two-part episode “Feat of Clay” from “Batman: The Animated Series.”
Watkins did not hold back on the gore in this film, showing not only the attack that disfigured Hagen’s face, but also a spotlight viewof the plastic surgery he underwent. It’s no wonder the film earned an R rating.
This movie isn’t perfect, however. The dialogue felt cheesy and clichéd at times, especially in scenes featuring Hagen and Dr. Caitlyn Corr, played by Naomi Ackie.
The film has also been criticized for not exploring Gotham City as much as it could have, instead splitting its time between Central City and Gotham. This film also takes place before Batman became active, making it difficult to make references that the audience would recognize without detracting from the plot.
Overall, this was a strong addition to James Gunn and Peter Safran’s growing DCU, with a film that left viewers wondering if Hagen was always the monster he becomes on the inside and if the overdose just externalized his evil nature.
Categories: Art & Life
