At first, this review is going to sound like I don’t think you should see Clayface in theaters. That’s fair because that is how I felt for the first half of the film, which I thought was an average movie buoyed by its premise and cast but little else. But, like with Clayface, stick with this review and you’ll see why I felt very differently by the end.
I don’t care if I ever watch the first half of Clayface again for two very different reasons. The first has everything to do with the movie itself. The slow-moving film uses an early 2000s superhero template. We learn who the main character is and where he comes from before the event that will change his life upends everything. We then learn way, way, way too much about the science that transforms him into the film’s titular monster. And it all takes place alongside a romantic subplot. Clayface only avoids being trite because it’s at least a fresh angle on a tired format. It’s a superhero/supervillain yarn mixed with a horror movie. But while it’s never bad thanks to its cast, cinematography, and general premise, it’s not good, either. It’s all just very fine.
The other reason I don’t ever need/want to see the first half again is that it is brutal. I can watch Jason Voorhees put a machete in a guy’s head without issue, but I can’t deal with seeing someone’s face sliced open in gruesome, realistic fashion. I also don’t enjoy seeing large needles injected next to someone’s eye. Eyes are my own bugaboo, and this movie features a whole lot of eye stuff, because Clayface is true body horror. You might love how gruesome it is, but I frequently found myself unable to watch. And I mean that literally. That’s a pretty good compliment for any horror film, but it’s especially true for a story about a handsome actor who turns into a giant goo killing machine whose grotesque body is the ultimate weapon.
As for the second half? I can’t wait to watch it again, because Clayface goes from an average (at best) film to an absolute blast once Tom Rhys Harries’ Matt Hagens starts using his powers to get his crowd-pleasing vengeance. When Clayface stops spending so much time explaining what is happening to him and embraces his transformation, it turns into a genuinely great movie. It is wildly creative and has a whole lot of fun with his shape-shifting abilities. The film also features some very fun/horrific/painful deaths as it goes from horror to a revenge flick. And it all culminates with a lengthy set piece that is both wholly satisfying and entertaining.
Director James Watkins’ film also fundamentally works as its own story even for people who know nothing about the character or franchise. Clayface feels almost entirely removed from Batman and even the DCU but is entirely true to the character. The film and star Tom Rhys Harries—who is absolutely fantastic—capture the sad tragedy of Matt Hagens and his descent to villain. That we’re able to root for him as long as we do is why the latter half is so much fun.
Harries gives a star-making performance and deserves all the praise he’ll get for his wide-ranging performance. He’s heartbreaking, unhinged, violent, funny, and scary. If he were just okay, the first half of the movie would be a total slog and the whole film would just be okay. But he’s really excellent. As is the the whole cast. This is a great ensemble. So many others also have to play Matt when he shape-shifts into them, and they’re all completely believable. I can’t name the two best examples of this because it would spoil some of the best moments. But you’ll know them when you see them.
The film’s co-lead, Naomi Ackie, is also a standout as Dr. Caitlyn Corr. She grounds the film with a performance that is entirely authentic and very much needed. I also really loved the quietly fantastic job done by Max Minghella as her not corrupt fiancé, Gotham PD Detective John Borelli. Joshua James is excellent as Matt’s best friend Corey. To the surprise of no one, Eddie Marsan is also great in a minor role. And we get delightfully detestable showings from the film’s main villains, played by Ruby Sear and David Dencik. Everyone just works in their role, including a whole bunch of henchmen who look like comic book characters come to life.
What also works is the CGI. Matt’s melting face is horrifying because it’s believable. Even before he starts undergoing treatment with Dr. Corr, his shredded up face is the stuff of nightmares. Because the makeup team did such a good job, you not only understand why he would undergo an experimental treatment, you want him to.
The first half of Clayface had my screening’s audience shrieking. The second had it hooting and hollering. And it’s that part of the movie that made me want to write a positive review. Would the second half have worked as well without the methodical first part? It’s a fair question to ask. But the answer is yes. The problems of the first half are problems of pace and focus. It’s not a slow build, it’s just needlessly slow. The story is too in the weeds on the “how,” as if it feels it needs to justify its fantastical elements when that’s the least important, least interesting part of the story. But once it thoroughly finished answering that question and truly becomes a Clayface film it transforms into a monster of a movie.
Clayface hits theaters on October 23.