Clayface, written by Mike Flanagan—arguably the hottest name in horror right now—is further testament that Batman’s rogues gallery is almost as popular as the Caped Crusader himself. This is especially true when you consider that the last decade has seen more live-action movies and series starring arch-enemies like the Joker, Harley Quinn, and the Penguin than the Dark Knight himself. While not all of those projects were gems, the good news for DCU fans is that Clayface is a genre experiment that creepily works.
Directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil), Clayface tells the origin story of the titular villain. This iteration focuses on the Matt Hagen version of the character, played by Tom Rhys Harries. Hagen is an actor on the cusp of superstardom who crosses a powerful mob boss. After a truly stomach-turning attack, Matt becomes obsessed with fixing his hideously scarred face, reviving his career, and perhaps extracting a little revenge along the way..
James Gunn promised that his new DCU would prioritize unique, quality scripts over strict world-building and forced continuity, and Clayface is the ultimate proof that he is delivering. While Lanterns was a surprise hit with its original take and Superman delivered a classic, crowd-pleasing superhero film,. this…this is something else. Neither Marvel nor DC has ever played with content this graphic and intense. I am usually no fan of body horror, but I can recognize when it is done well, and this movie made me squirm in my seat over and over again.
The entire cast turns in strong performances, but most of the weight is shouldered by Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie as Dr. Caitlyn Corr—the experimental scientist researching the AI nanite injections that both curse and cure Matt. While I was initially frustrated by the budding romantic tension between the engaged Caitlyn and the unstable Matt, it becomes clear by the end that this dynamic serves as a vital component of Matt’s descent into supervillainy. Meanwhile, Caitlyn’s fiancé, a Gotham City police detective, somehow manages to be a subtle scene-stealer, standing out even against Rhys Harries’ larger-than-life performance.
The film features gorgeous camera work and stellar cinematography. One standout sequence in a swanky Gotham nightclub showcases Matt hitting his stride with his powers, blending a dance routine, exceptionally well-done scene transitions, and some good old-fashioned mayhem—making it easily the most “fun” section of a movie that otherwise leans heavily into darker elements. The Clayface effects look terrific in almost every shot, with only a few minor exceptions, and the slow rollout of his final form is highly entertaining to watch. Leading up to that big reveal, the film treats fans to fantastic homages to his iconic first appearance in Batman: The Animated Series, culminating in a final, glorious look at the version of Clayface those fans know and love. My only design nitpick is the choice to keep human eyes on the clay behemoth rather than opting for something more demonic.
Clocking in at under two hours, this is a relatively short film, yet there is still noticeable padding in the story to drag Matt to the villainous finish line. That said, I applaud the choice to avoid turning Matt into a standard anti-hero; the film flirts with the idea but ultimately reveals he is just a broken, selfish, mentally unstable man lashing out with his newfound power. If and when Batman finally punches his rubbery face in a future live-action crossover, it will be well-deserved. Unfortunately, while the individual body horror elements and action sequences are spectacular, they are trapped inside a predictable, paint-by-numbers revenge plot.
For anyone wondering, Clayface features absolutely no signs of Batman—not even a passing mention. Furthermore, despite being confirmed as a canonical part of James Gunn’s new DCU—which currently includes Creature Commandos, Superman, and Supergirl—there are zero references or connections to any of those characters or overarching storylines. Instead, the film takes place almost entirely within Gotham City, utilizing its iconic landmarks while dropping a few minor nods to other classic DC cities as it’s only hints at a larger world.
Anyone complaining about superhero fatigue or a lack of originality will certainly have little to say about this big swing from DC Studios. Those looking for legitimate scares for a date night this Halloween have a great option with Clayface, and hopefully, the studio’s willingness to deliver such surprising projects is rewarded with the freedom to take more risks in the future. The challenge moving forward will be successfully paying off these characters in an eventual Batman story. Hopefully, this movie isn’t just an interesting one-off that goes nowhere, but rather a compelling foundation that genuinely impacts the rapidly growing DCU.
Score: 3.5 out of 5