Clayface

James Watkins‘ Clayface promises to be the first Gunnverse DC horror film, and he ain’t kidding, but is this what we asked for? And for the non-DC audience, why should I care about Clayface?

Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is about to become an “Oscar-nominated” actor. He’s at the height of his game and good-looking to boot. After getting that nomination, he jets to Gotham for a sit-down interview with talk show host Vic Chissler (Rob Brydon), then hits the nightclub with his childhood best friend, Corey Bowery (Joshua James). At the nightclub, he entangles himself with wannabe actress Mia Torrez (Joana Ribeiro), and after being warned that she is the girlfriend of Gotham mob boss Markos Szabo (David Dencik), Matt sleeps with her anyway.

The next morning, Matt and Mia are surrounded by Markos and his men. Mia is easily forgiven, but Markos decides to cut Matt’s face up with a switchblade. The pretty boy ain’t pretty anymore. His manager, Frank Fitzgerald (Eddie Marsan), tries to hook him up with the best plastic surgeon to no avail. In fact, Frank has spent all of Matt’s money, and now Matt is forced to live broken in a shady Gotham apartment. While watching the news, Matt sees a story about scientist Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), who developed AI nanotechnology that might be able to fix his face. Caitlyn’s research is still in the development phase. She’s been testing it on herself, and now Matt might be the perfect human guinea pig. Warned of all the problems that come with experimentation, Matt is so desperate he’ll try anything. Lo and behold, Caitlyn’s nanobots work, and Matt is pretty once again.

Caitlyn Corr examines Matt Hagen’s scarred face before his experimental treatment in Clayface.

“Mia is easily forgiven, but Markos decides to cut Matt’s face up with a switchblade.”

Against Caitlyn’s better judgment, Matt decides to hit the red carpet to honor the guy who took his place in a Gotham theater production. Matt makes a splash, but then his face starts looking splashed. Uh-oh. The cure is only temporary. Soon, the desperate Matt injects himself with too many nanoparticles. Now, he essentially has Wolverine-like healing powers. You can’t hurt the man. Then there are the side effects, like being able to look like anyone else and having his body fall apart when he’s stressed or angry. Believe me, you don’t want to see him angry. That anger gives him an idea: take down Szabo and his men for what they did to him.

First, the worst part of James Watkins’ Clayface is the DC Studios logo at the start of the film, and the fact that it also takes place in Gotham City. Remove these two elements, and you’d have no clue that this is a James Gunn DCU movie.

Second, this is a B-horror movie from start to finish. Yes, the production values are quite good given a multimillion-dollar budget, but as someone who reviews B-horror movies for Film Threat, I can tell you this story isn’t far from those. It’s got over-the-top plot point moments, a love story, obligatory nudity, lots and lots of gore, and people meeting their end in some horrific ways. This film is not for the squeamish, as copious amounts of skin are cut off. There’s loads of projectile blood, plus body parts that melt or fall off. This is why you’re here to see Clayface… It’s gory and disgusting.

A disfigured Matt Hagen presses his face against a neon-lit window in Clayface.

“It’s by no means Shakespeare, but it’s a solid high-budget B-movie, and Watkins knows it.”

There are some pretty incredible moments, including the sleep study scene that gets sexy and creepy real fast. There’s a conversation with Vic Chissler that would make Gollum proud, and the final boss battle is the film’s highlight.

I don’t like horror, but if your film has something to say about the human condition, I’ll give you a passing grade. Yes, this is about pretty privilege. The good-looking people get all the breaks, and we take extreme measures to maintain that prettiness. I don’t know that this has anything to do with the actual DC Comics Clayface character, but this theme runs throughout the film. In the end, it’s about the consequences of our choices and making all the wrong decisions.

The bar is low, but Clayface, in my humble opinion, is by far the best of the James Gunn DC Universe. It’s by no means Shakespeare, but it’s a solid high-budget B-movie, and Watkins knows it. The outlandish plot is given the grounded treatment, while staying a B-movie all the way. I’ll reiterate: if body horror isn’t your thing, skip it, but damn, it beats all low expectations for a superhero film.