Review: ‘Clayface’ Is An Interesting Experiment Anchored By A Great Lead Performance
by Erik Amaya
As DC Studios continues to both define itself and set its offerings apart from its crosstown rival, Clayface arrives as an interesting experiment: a horror movie set in the DC Cinematic Universe. The result is a curious if slight film anchored by a great lead performance.
Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen, an Oscar-nominated actor from the Narrows in Gotham City whose good looks and talent have taken him all the way to Coast City. But when he goes out to celebrate his Academy Award chances, he ends up in a situation that leaves him disfigured, disgraced, and nearly penniless. Out of options, he turns to Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a scientist working with advanced nanotech, but left to rot after a major corporation stole some of her patents. The two soon form a partnership: Matt will be the live human trial for her work. The results lead to various amounts of body horror, mental instability, and a very familiar Batman rogue.
And, yes, the plot synopsis is that simple. Unlike other superhero-based films, Clayface takes its one key comic book concept and runs it through a shady Gotham alley filled with body horror, surgical trauma, and even a few earned jumped scares. But the simplicity is welcome as the film has no other choice but to build up both the horror elements and the two lead characters. Harries does a great job making Matt sympathetic and interesting. It would’ve been real easy to present him as vapid before the inciting incident, but we’re quickly introduced to a man who channels his deeper feelings into his work. He is, quite literally, not just a pretty face.
But once he meets Dr. Corr, the rapport Harries and Ackie create is true magic. Their chemistry is one of the best things about the film and underscores the dread as both discover just what the nano-procedure did to Matt’s body. There’s also a very a nice romantic vibe between them that ends up underscoring the horror aspect of the film quite well. Additionally, Ackie excels as Corr. She feels like a real person in a real Gotham City just trying to prove that her theories are correct. Of course, Matt really complicate things.
The performances are backed by good characterization in the script by Matt Flanagan and Hossein Amini. While neither character gets a lot of solid backstory, enough is inferred to inform their choices. Then again, they are the only truly developed characters with the rest of the ensemble feeling more like one-off Batman: The Animated Series denizens of Gotham. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Some are clearly meant to be horror movie fodder while others populate the city in a way that feels correct.
This is Gotham City, after all, so low-level mobsters, corrupt cops, and a business manager or two have as much life as is necessary.
Meanwhile, director James Watkins of Speak No Evil Fame does a good job creating tension, splatter, and even an emotionally-laden kill. He also orchestrates an incredible centerpiece sequence. In a more standard superhero movie, this would be the scene in which the hero, now familiar with their abilities, enters one of the antagonist’s dens and mops the floor with the henchmen. But thanks to the Clayface‘s villainous focus and Watkins’ eye, the action is both cathartic and unsettling … especially when you see what Matt does for an encore.
All that said, we can see some horror hounds walking out disappointed as the movie isn’t that scary. We can also see a type of DC fan who might bristle at the chilling elements and images. Nevertheless, the attempt to bring Flanagan’s sensibility into the DCU is an admirable thing. And, we suspect, may offer more on a second viewing for both audiences once they know the contours of the movie.
Speaking of the DCU, the movie continues the trend of Lanterns by keeping the more costumed elements of the universe at bay. None of the other heroes are referenced by name, for example. It also makes no attempt to set up subsequent storylines or establish Matt’s future with, say, Batman or the Creature Commandos. He is very much the spotlight character and fans of those types of stories — or the old DC Secret Origins series — will recognize just what the movie is trying to do.
Which brings us back to our initial impression: the film is an interesting experiment that would not work nearly as well without its leads performances. Harries and Ackie keep its heart pumping even as Clayface itself would very much like to rip out the pulmonary systems of the entire city.
Clayface is in theaters now.
