Clayface
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Review: ‘Clayface’ is a Gory, Blood-Splattered Tale of Body Horror Masquerading as a Comic Book Villain Origin Story
October 21, 2026Ben MK
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Of all the villains in Batman's rogues gallery, only a select few have become a part of the Dark Knight's live-action cinematic legacy. Whether it's the Joker, Catwoman, Penguin or the Riddler, these are the bad guys who have resonated the most with both comic book readers and moviegoers alike, proving themselves to be worthy adversaries while also possessing a tragic origin story to warrant the audience's sympathy. It's a defining character trait and the mark of a truly complex and compelling nemesis. And with Clayface, director James Watkins is setting out to follow that formula, as he brings to the big screen one of the Caped Crusader's most menacing and formidable arch enemies. Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is a rising movie star who seems to have it all figured out. Despite being dealt a rough hand in life — growing up in one of Gotham City's roughest neighborhoods, the Narrows — he's still managed to make quite the name for himself, starring in a string of Hollywood hits and even earning himself a coveted best actor nomination for his most recent on-screen role. However, when his ego gets the better of him and he ends up sleeping with the girlfriend of ruthless Gotham mob boss Markos Szabo (David Dencik), he soon discovers how quickly his fortunes can be reversed. Horribly disfigured by Szabo and his goons as punishment for his indiscretions, Matt sees his once-prosperous film career instantly derailed, as he's harshly shunned by his fans and dropped like a rock by his agent. And to make matters worse, he finds himself losing his civil lawsuit against the man who cost him his career, a devastating blow that also leads him to lose most of his savings, forcing him to move out of his expensive mansion and into a roach-infested motel. Enter Caitlyn Corr (Naomie Ackie), a scientist whose breakthrough work in AI-powered nanotechnology might just hold the key to the salvation Matt so desperately desires. The inventor of a biotechnological substance that can be injected into its subject to repair damaged and diseased tissue, Caitlyn's research has the potential to restore Matt to his former appearance, thereby allowing him to claw himself out of the gutter. To paraphrase the old saying, though, too much of a good thing can be a curse. And when Matt decides to inject himself with several doses worth of the substance in one shot, it causes him to undergo a shocking transformation that's far more sinister than skin deep. Soon, Matt discovers that he's gained the ability to shapeshift into anyone he wants, not to mention the ability for his wounds to self-heal. But when he goes revisiting the crime that was committed against him and seeking out answers among those involved, he'll also discover what he's truly capable of — as his quest for closure quickly morphs into a bloody and gruesome mission of vengeance. Written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, the result definitely fares better than other supervillain origin stories like the Spider-Man spin-offs Morbius, Madame Web and Kraven the Hunter. Still, even though Clayface may rank at the higher end of this superhero sub-genre, the movie is by no means perfect. Suffice to say, viewers with a penchant for body horror will certainly take pleasure in the film's numerous scenes detailing Matt's horrific transformation from an ordinary man to a walking hunk of clay, as well as the brutal and gory deaths he inflicts on the individuals who become his victims along the way. However, audiences expecting more excitement and something of a quicker pace may be put off by the story's meandering narrative, while those hoping to see Clayface in his final form wreaking havoc on Gotham City will most likely be left disappointed by the mere tease of a more imposing villain that the movie delivers in its last, fleeting moments. Ultimately, it all adds up to a film that seems to echo Sam Raimi's Darkman. But whether or not that homage is intentional, Clayface does manage to one-up that campy, 1990 cult classic by putting more of a serious, horror-themed twist on its revenge-fuelled proceedings. Make no mistake, Batman fans can rest assured that the DCU has largely done right by one of the Dark Knight's most iconic villains. Nonetheless, audiences hoping for an origin story of the same caliber as The Batman would do well to reshape their expectations. Clayface releases October 23rd, 2026 from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has an MPAA rating of R for strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity and brief drug use. Its runtime is 1 hr. 48 min. |
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