Key facts
- The film 'Clayface' is described as a dark and gory origin story.
- It embraces body horror with practical effects and prosthetics.
- The script is criticized for being skin-deep and failing to develop characters.
- Director James Watkins settled for a generic and predictable second half.
- The project was originally brought to Gunn and Safran by Mike Flanagan.
Euronews Culture's Film of the Week, 'Clayface', is an admirably dark and wince-inducing detour for DC Studios, focusing on the 'monster' aspect of their universe. The film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a rising actor disfigured by a mobster, who turns to scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) for a regenerative serum. The initial results are promising until unforeseen side effects lead Matt into a violent spiral. The movie works as a bleak and surprisingly gory origin story, embracing body-horror with visceral reconstructive surgery and unsettling scenes. However, the script is criticized for being skin-deep, failing to develop characters or explore thematic potential, leading to a generic and predictable second half. The project was initially brought to DC Studios by Mike Flanagan, but scheduling conflicts led to Hossein Amini overhauling the script. Despite promising nods to films like 'The Fly' and 'Eyes Without A Face', and Harries's acting chops, the film is deemed uneven.