By Jack Shanley

Comic book cinema takes a sharp, bloody turn into full-throttle body horror with DC Studios’ Clayface, directed by James Watkins (The Woman in Black). Written by horror veteran Mike Flanagan, the film completely strips away traditional superhero tropes, delivering a gritty, standalone origin story that leans heavily into visceral gore and B-movie thrills rather than glossy spectacle.
The story focuses on Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), a vain ambitious actor driven on the brink of a big break in his career. Following a tragic exposure to a volatile experimental compound, Hagen’s body begins to mutate, breaking down his flesh. Rather than seeking a cure, Hagen uses his grotesque new ability to morph his appearance to inflict revenge on those who wronged him in Hollywood and Gotham’s dark underworld. Naomi Ackie co-stars as Caitlyn, a scientist whose complex role in Hagen’s transformation echoes classic Frankenstein themes, though the narrative occasionally leaves her underutilized.

What makes Clayface stand out from the crowded superhero genre is its refusal to rely on standard franchise formulas. There are no Batman cameos, nod-to-the-camera universe setups, or mid-credits teasers. Instead, Watkins orchestrates a dark, atmospheric thrill ride that relies heavily on practical makeup effects and skin-crawling transformations reminiscent of 1980s horror classics. Harries gives a committed, unhinged performance, capturing both the tragic desperation and the narcissistic malice of a man losing his humanity piece by piece.

However, the film isn’t without its flaws. The pacing stumbles from time to time throughout the film. Hagen’s moral descent can make it difficult to root for him as a protagonist but there could be no in some way an argument for him being a character study. When the movie leans into its squeamish, practical-effects-heavy horror—in a chaotic final act—it achieves an incredibly gruesome identity of its own

Clayface overall may be too stomach-churning for the average casual viewer seeking a lighthearted comic book adventure, but for genre fans looking for a dark, gruesome and unapologetic horror movie, it offers a refreshingly nasty night at the cinema.
In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘Clayface’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Three ½ stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: James Watkins – Rating: 16 – Genre: Horror/Action – Run Time: 1h 48m - Language: English. For more film content please follow @screen_.addicts on Instagram.