There were few films on the fall release schedule I was more intrigued by than Clayface. Superhero-less villain films haven't been a recipe for success, with Sony putting out seven different terrible Spider-Manless flops, and Joker being a film I've grown to dislike more and more over time. That track record didn't bode well for Clayface, especially considering this new version of the DC universe hasn't even introduced Clayface's main foe Batman. Despite those misgivings, the film immediately had my attention when Mike Flanagan came out wanting to deliver a horror-centered take on the character. While Flanagan didn't wind up directing the film, he did write the screenplay, and in the director's seat is James Watkins, the man behind Eden Lake and the English remake of Speak No Evil.
Clayface follows a fictional actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), an up and comer who earns his first Oscar nomation. Whilst out on the town celebrating, he takes home a woman despite the warnings of her romantic entanglements. When he wakes up, the woman's mob boss boyfriend and his goons cut up Matt's face, leading to a costly legal battle and multiple failed attempts to fix the damage, ultimately leaving his career in the sewer. With his career so tied to his face, he seeks out an experimental doctor whose treatment could fix all of the damage. While initially things work out, the treatment's side effects prove ghastly, heightened only by Matt's revenge soaked spiralling thanks to betrayals from those he trusts.
The film is at its best when it dives into the body horror aspects of its story. There are moments here that are frankly disgusting but in the best way, offering gnarly gore and makeup effects that make your skin crawl. I can't think of a comic book movie that has ever made me squirm this much, especially in the early going as the treatment begins showing side effects. As the film goes on it tends to lean away from the horror aspects in favour of a shapeshifting revenge story, but while it isn't as good as when the horror is front and centre, there's a pulpy throwback fun to it that I still really enjoyed. While the practical effects and makeup are highlights, the visual effects are also pretty damn great and there are clever filmmaking moments where shadows are used rather than relying on CGI that may not hold up.
From an acting standpoint, this film largely hinges on its two leads, but said leads are putting in fantastic work. Tom Rhys Harries is a revelation as Matt, making us fall for his charisma almost immediately. His down to earth demeanor makes the fall from grace feel truly heartbreaking, and the way Rhys Harries portrays that spiral is just crushing. He leans into the body horror terror brilliantly, and seemingly has a ton of fun when the revenge plot takes over. All in all, his performance is one that truly makes you care for the character and feel every bit of his tragic tale. Rhys Harries is often acting opposite the great Naomi Ackie, who really stands her own throughout the film. She plays the doctor who helps Matt, and their dynamic is really the emotional core of the film, sold brilliantly by her charm onscreen. The supporting cast is a bit underwhelming, largely thanks to an antagonist that feels more like a goofy caricature of a mob boss than one that really strikes fear, but the film's focus is more on the horror side of things so I don't think having a weak villain is the biggest issue.
On an unrelated note, I really enjoyed this new version of Gotham that we're seeing for the first time. It fits the dark and grimy vibe that we've come to know, but also throws in some flashes of colour that give the city a real identity rather than just a drab urban playground. I don't know how much Clayface will actually lead into what comes next for the DCU, but this is in my opinion the best we've seen from this new universe even if it does wind up being a one-off. 4/5
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