Clayface is one of those comic book characters with whom I’m not very familiar, so I mostly can’t say what’s accurate to the comics here, either in Tom Rhys Harries’ performance or Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini’s screenplay. However, I do know that certain elements of this film’s story are taken from the two-part episode of the original Batman: The Animated Series titled “Feat of Clay.” Accurate to that episode is the fact that Matt Hagen (Harries) is an actor before the incident which leads to his skin becoming moldable, healable, and self-destructive. Outside of that starting point, this standalone horror film seems to chart its own path within its own Gotham, and it’s exceptionally entertaining.
As Matt arrives on a set in the opening scene, we learn he’s potentially about to be nominated for an Oscar. After his nomination is officially announced, the genuinely humble performer lets loose that evening, and that’s where the trouble starts. He spends the night with the wrong woman and ends up with his face brutally disfigured by mob boss Markos Szabo (David Dencik). Like Szabo himself, these early scenes don’t have a ton of personality to them and tend to be under-written. Regardless, the film kicks into its highest gear once the now-cancelled Matt (a press campaign is launched against him painting him as a sexual assault perpetrator, and he loses his court case with the mob) meets Caitlyn Corr (Naomie Ackie).
Caitlyn is a brilliant scientist whose project dealing with regenerative skin cells and tissue might be just what Matt is looking for to fix his face quickly. As it goes in many “be careful what you wish for” scenarios, the treatment starts working a little too well, along with having other negative side effects. Eventually Matt finds that he can’t control the way his face is constantly contorting, but by the time he does figure it out, he’s too far down the path of revenge to stop abusing his power. The makeup and computer-generated effects of Matt’s changing face and body are outstanding. As the film ramps up in general intensity, so too do its body horror elements. There are too many standout body horror moments in this film to list them all here, but the one I squirmed at the most (in the best way) involves Matt having to cut his eyelids open on a turbulent plane ride.
Harries and Ackie have incredible chemistry, and that really helps sell their will-they-won’t-they relationship as Caitlyn tries desperately to help Matt, both physically and emotionally. The thorn in Matt’s side as he tries to pursue Caitlyn is John (Max Minghella), Caitlyn’s fiancé and a Gotham police detective. It’s perhaps a bit too convenient how long John spends not aware of Matt’s involvement the revenge-motivated crimes which fill out the second half of the film, but Clayface is more than entertaining enough to paper over its slight writing flaws with a perfect blend of body horror and genuinely hilarious dark action antics. Credit to director James Watkins and cinematographer Rob Hardy for giving the film a colorful pop sensibility while never losing the broad noir feeling. All of these elements and more make Clayface a guaranteed Halloween crowdpleaser, and an incredibly fun thrill ride for any time of year. | George Napper
