Thu, October 22, 2026 at 10:33 PM UTC
“Clayface” is so far beyond traditional comic book films that have taken a drubbing in the court of public opinion in recent years.
Sure, it would fit neatly into that genre, but it’s a psychological thriller, a horror movie and a tragedy wrapped up in the gooey persona of one of the B-list members of Batman’s gallery of rogues. Not since Heath Ledger’s iteration of The Joker has a Dark Knight villain been filled with this much depth.
Many questioned the wisdom of DC Studios head James Gunn greenlighting a story based on a shapeshifting villain, but it turns out it’s the superhero movie palette cleanser needed before the onslaught of the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” — and it’s also an absolutely perfect film for the spooky season.
“Clayface” fits nicely with Halloween because it can be chilling to its core as the audience watches disfigured actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) descend into controlled madness. But the film digs deeper to explore the circumstances that caused his downfall.
Director James Watkins deftly explores all the elements of Hagen’s situations to create an intelligent horror film that relies on narrative and the humanity of its characters to drive home his thematic points.
Hagan, is a recently Oscar-nominated actor on top of the world. He’s handsome, getting his pick of scripts and all the trappings of fame after having grown up in one of the seedier, impoverished areas of Gotham City.
With all of his success, however, comes arrogance and a sense of invincibility. He pays the price for those character flaws one night after bedding a Gotham mobster’s girlfriend. Markos Szabo (David Dencik), the gangster in question, gets his revenge by carving Hagen’s greatest asset: his pretty boy face.
It sends him into emotional turmoil as his agent and business manager drop him because he’s no longer got the prettiest face in town and can’t get work. Even surgery cannot repair what Szabo took from him.
Desperation sends him to try anything to repair his face, including an experimental procedure, which isn’t even in human trials, created by Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie). It involves nanotechnology that repairs flesh, bone and nerves at the cellular level.
After ups and downs with the procedure, one particular incident sends him into a tailspin and he overdoses on the nanites, which fundamentally alters his body structure. It does something else as his form begins to change spontaneously until he’s able to get it under control.
That’s only the physical side, however, as it’s clear that Hagen, unable to let the past go, is having negative feelings amplified. They begin to control not only what he is, but who he is, leading to a lust for revenge.
‘Clayface’ movie is an effective tragedy
That points to the tragedy of the character. Here’s a guy who worked his way out of poverty to gain fame and fortune only to have it snatched from him. However, he isn’t innocent in his downfall. It’s something he could have worked through had fear of poverty (a strong motivator for many) and his vanity not consumed his thoughts.
Rhys Harries is asked to do a lot of heavy lifting in a horror movie that’s ultimately a character study, and he does so admirably. Despite any loathsome act Hagen commits, it’s difficult to not maintain some modicum of sympathy for him even during its tragic ending.
That conclusion involves Corr and her cop fiancé (Max Minghella) and allows the audience to process just how far the madness has gone in this journey. Ackie proves to be a worthy complement to Harries portrayal of Hagen, drawn to him initially by his circumstances only to slowly go where she knows she cannot.
Watkins brings the elements of “Clayface” together quite nicely with perfect timing on scary moments and the ability to keep the audience not only on the edge of their seats, but guessing also.
If the plan is to return “Clayface” to the DC Universe somewhere down the line, the quality audiences get here can be assured his return would be very much welcome.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
‘Clayface’ review
Cast: Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella
Running time: 1 hour 48 minutes
Rated: R for strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity and brief drug use.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal:‘Clayface’ movie a welcome addition to comic book genre | Review
