How Clayface Succeeds as a Horror Movie and Comic Book Villain Origin Story
Clayface was directed by James Watkins and stars Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, and David Dencik, and this is about the origin story of the Batman villain Clayface and how he was a movie star named Matt Hagan, how he was disfigured by a mob boss, the treatment he got, and how it transformed him. This is the third DCU movie and is written by Matt Flanagan. Many fans, after how Supergirl was earlier this year and seeing previous villain movies like Morbius be bad, were worried Clayface could follow a similar pattern. It’s safe to say Clayface is a lot better than those other movies.
Clayface succeeds because it embraces being an R-rated horror comic book movie. It’s not afraid to go all out in violence and body horror. Instead of trying to make Clayface an anti-hero, the movie makes him a tragic villain. As he pursues his revenge, he also does horrible things that heroes, and even anti-heroes, wouldn’t do. Clayface’s best moments of horror and suspense come when the audience least expects it, mainly when he changes his appearance to look like someone else. By the end of the movie, when he finally appears as the full-on Clayface monster, it felt earned. The action and visuals for a small-budget comic book movie are pulled off well, as are the camera shots. The third act has a great action sequence that some might see as sloppy, but it's an excellent way for Hagan to demonstrate his Clayface abilities.
Tom Rhy Harries does well as Matt Hagan, an actor gaining some success until he crosses paths with gangsters and gets disfigured. What makes his turn as a villain so tragic is that he is so likable at first. All he wants is his life back, and you feel for him. While you want to see his attackers face justice, you also don’t approve of some of the methods Hagan is using to get to his goal and what he does afterward. He’s got great chemistry with Naomi Ackie’s character, Dr. Caitlyn Corr, who helps Hagan by curing his face. She also happens to be engaged to the one decent cop in Gotham shown, played by Max Minghella.
David Dencik plays the mobster who disfigures Hagan, Markos Szabo. He has a lot of power in Gotham and manages to get away with hurting Hagan and even smearing his name. Dencik does well portraying this unlikable, scummy villain that you can’t help but look forward to seeing Hagan get his revenge on him. The look of Gotham so far in the DCU feels like what a modern-day Gotham City would look like and reminded me of Gotham from the Arkham games. There are neat Easter eggs that are not in your face.
Clayface isn’t without faults. The movie felt like it took from the 2019 Joker movie a few times. Some of the effects don’t always look that great. It felt like the ending, after a great third act, was rushed. While this isn’t a negative, I do have more questions. For example, where was Batman during all of this? DC Studios Co-Chair Peter Safran said before the movie was released that Batman is in Gotham City. Where are other Gotham City cops like Jim Gordon, Harvey Bullock, and others that fans know are good cops? Is Gordon Commissioner yet, and if not, who is? I’m curious to see when we'll know who the DCU Batman is and when The Brave and the Bold comes out.
Overall, Clayface is a well-made horror and comic book movie. It’s proof that horror could work in the comic book movie genre. It’s proof that villain movies could work. It’s a solid, standalone movie in the DCU. It doesn’t have to be a big event movie and tie into the previous DCU projects like Lanterns and Superman to work and I look forward to seeing more of Clayface and this version of Gotham City in future projects. It’s great to finally see Clayface appear on the big screen.
My final grade for Clayface is a B+. If you’re into horror movies and Batman villains, I recommend you check it out. What are your thoughts on Clayface? Let us know in the comments below.
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