“Clayface” Molds a Superb Stand-Alone Supervillain Story

Clayface (James Watkins, 2026) 4 out of 5 stars

I can honestly say that as producer James Gunn swings the DC Cinematic Universe into a (hopefully) commercially successful direction, I will miss the bold, gritty, and grounded narratives of superhero and supervillain characters created in earlier iterations of DC films. Movies such as The Batman, Joker, and the HBO show The Penguin make bold storytelling choices that reinvigorate the comic books’ most renowned characters and create compelling and relatable narratives. As this current phase of comic-book cinema ends, director James Watkins (Speak No Evil) offers one last ambitious endeavor by bringing in a more obscure Batman villain to the screen. Mixed with body horror, drama, and tinges of romance and comedy, Clayface amazed me in all the right ways, even if it didn’t quite hit perfection.

From the very start, Watkins lays down an engaging premise, and while I tire of Hollywood patting themselves on the back with stories about the industry, Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries, Sisi & I) nevertheless proves a fascinating character as a rising movie star disfigured by a ruthless mob boss. Thereafter, he meets Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie, Shelter) and undergoes experimental surgery which introduces nano-robotic organisms into his body that rapidly repair his cell tissue, though at a frightening cost. As Matt discovers the limits and extent of his abilities, he seeks vengeance on the people who ruined his career, slowly losing his humanity and morality along the way.

Matt Hagen’s abilities as Clayface are given an extremely satisfying, hyper-realistic portrayal. The subtleties of his power contradict the classic, grayish hulking monster from the comics and TV shows, and reflect the realism found in more recent DC work. Clayface alternates between the humorous, tragic, brutal, dangerous, and at times loving and sympathetic, all the while weaving his way towards an inevitable showdown with his enemies. The time taken to depict this supervillain reaps great rewards, and the moments of action, suspense, surprise, and monstrosity make the viewer both fall in love and fall forward in their seat.

While Clayface as a character drives the film, Watkins grows lazy through certain parts of the script. Certain overly convenient story points made me roll my eyes, but for the sake of moving the plot forward I was able to overlook them. Overall, Clayface does not lean all that much on coincidence and the positive balance of how Clayface’s abilities actually drive the plot is mostly successful, even if filling in the narrative gaps is rough at times.

While Clayface is by no means perfect, I will forever appreciate that James Watkins decided to give DC Comics one last gritty story (pending The Batman 2 releasing) and portray an otherwise unbelievable and lofty supervillain in a grounded, hyper-realistic manner. Most days it feels as if the superhero genre gravitates towards family-friendly dynamics, yet Watkins refuses to pull punches here and gives Clayface a sense of horror and strangeness, coupled with the vulnerability he deserves. Just in time for the Halloween season, Clayface is sure to make one’s eyes pop, stomachs turn, and adrenaline pump as you wonder whether or not you should be rooting for a not-so-nice guy, soon to become a someday formidable opponent for some future variant of The Dark Knight.

Adam Vaughn

Adam Vaughn is a graduate of the Film & Moving Image program at Stevenson University, with a focus in Cinematography and Production. He also has a minor in Theater and Media Performance. Adam works as a freelance photographer and videographer, focusing his craft on creating compelling photographic and cinematic imagery. Adam is excited to join the Film Festival Today team and explore the world of cinema and visual arts.