CLAYFACE Is Exactly What DC Needs

Directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil, Eden Lake) and originally written by Mike Flanagan, Clayface takes one of Batman's most unusual villains and gives him a gruesome origin story. But instead of another conventional superhero movie, we get a nasty, low-budget body horror thriller that feels closer to The Fly, The Substance, and Darkman than anything in the DC Universe. Starring Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie, the film follows a promising Gotham City actor whose life takes a horrifying turn after a brutal attack leaves him disfigured. What follows is a disturbing story of obsession, identity, revenge, and some genuinely stomach-churning transformations. It's not a masterpiece, and the screenplay has its problems, but there's something refreshing about a comic book adaptation that embraces horror, keeps its ambitions relatively small, and actually allows its villain to become a monster. In this review, I talk about what makes Clayface work, its practical and digital effects, its influences, and why DC could benefit from making more movies like this. If you've seen the movie, let me know your thoughts in the comments! #Clayface #DCU #MovieReview