by Victoria Camarda
Clayface is a new horror/action movie that follows one of the well-known DC Comics villains, Matt Hagen/Clayface, played by Tom Ryhs Harries. The film was directed by James Wattkins and written by Hossein Amini.
This movie takes place in the DC Universe and follows Hagen, an upcoming actor who grew up in Gotham. Just as he starts to get his big break, he messed with the wrong crowd during a night out and gets tortured by a famous mob boss, Mark Szabo, played by David Dencik. Hagen attempts to get justice, but due to the power that Szabo has, it becomes useless.
Hagen undergoes numerous surgeries to get his face back, but it doesn’t work. He’s able to heal the damage, but his face will never look the same. With desperation to fix his look and get his career back, Hagen goes home to Gotham City and undergoes experimental skin therapy by Doctor Caitlyn Corr, played by Naomi Ackie, a scientist working on a skin treatment. Her ideas are constantly being stolen and she struggles with funding. Hagen offers to be her experimental subject and out of desperation, she says yes. However, a normal treatment turns into something much more.
This film isn’t like the other DC villain movies. It takes a dark turn with body horror, but it stands out compared to other body horror movies. It makes you squeamish but it’s not overly grotesque. The SFX makeup and editing make these horrors look realistic and painful, adding to the plot and not distracting from the story line.
The writers do a great job making the viewers sympathize with the so called “villain.” It isn’t just a backstory; it’s a revenge movie. You’ll find yourself empathizing with Hagen and the experience that he has; in the end, you want him to win.
Clayface also taps into how society sees beauty and how people’s worth can depend on it. Hagen wasn’t only a talented actor; he was known for his looks, and he only valued himself because of his so-called beauty. The main goal originally wasn’t revenge. It was to get his looks back.
Throughout the film, Hagen slowly transforms physically and mentally, eventually becoming filled with anger and resentment. He also develops an unhealthy obsession with Dr. Corr, which fuels the fire to make rash decisions.
Many DC fans are speculating that Clayface might join the Batman movie universe. It’s confirmed that during the time when Clayface becomes a villain, Batman is present in Gotham. This makes people wonder what the filmmakers have planned.
Clayface is a great film that follows an unexpected DC Comics character, and it really gets the job done. It’s a step up for the DC Universe and could end up being an interesting addition to the Batman films.
