Batman creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger introduced the character Clayface in Detective Comics #40 in June 1940. Inspired by the 1925 Phantom of the Opera, the character was Basil Karlo, a B-movie actor who became a criminal. Over the years, various other writers and artists created new versions of the character that differed from the last. The character gained significant attention when he was introduced in Batman: The Animated Series in the two-part “Feat of Clay.” Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan, a fan of the episode, pitched a Clayface movie to DC Studios in 2023. James Watkins, who previously directed Speak No Evil, would helm the project because Flanagan was directing The Exorcist: Martyrs. With a modest $40 million budget, principal photography took place in Liverpool and lasted from August to November 2025. After premiering at the Hollywood Legion Theater, Clayface hit theaters in October 2026.
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Synopsis
Rising star Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is the talk of the town, earning major success and an Oscar nomination. While partying with his childhood friend, Corey Bowery (Joshua James), he locks eyes with Mia Torrez (Joana Ribeiro). They end up sleeping together only to be awoken by Mia’s boyfriend, Gotham mob boss Markos Szabo (David Dencik). In retaliation, Szabo and his goons disfigure Matt’s face, while Mia falsely accuses him of sexual assault, ending his career. Desperate for help, Matt meets with Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a scientist who’s developed a treatment to repair damaged tissue. Though it initially works and Matt’s face is restored, it starts to melt, leading to Matt overdosing on the treatment. Despite Caitlyn’s concerns, Matt feels rejuvenated and begins taking revenge on everyone who has wronged him. As his body count rises, Matt loses more of his humanity and slowly becomes a monster.
Review
Though not as bad as most reviews said, Supergirl was a huge disappointment, especially after Superman was so phenomenal. By contrast, Clayface achieves its goal without reinventing the wheel, which is more than acceptable for this film. In a time dominated by large-scale, underdeveloped superhero epics, a modest comic book revenge film feels refreshing. It’s a small-scale, intimate story about one man’s fall from grace and eventual descent into madness. Admittedly, the film does borrow a lot from other movies, especially Darkman and The Fly remake, which isn’t inherently bad. As long as the final product is entertaining and does something different, I can forgive it for reusing elements. It helps that, while this takes place in the DCU, it doesn’t have tons of references or direct ties. You can go into this movie completely blind and still understand what’s happening without needing to watch several other movies.
Thom Rhys Harries is phenomenal as Matt Hagen, bringing tons of weight and humanity to the role. You can feel how distraught he is when he loses everything he’s worked hard for because of one bad decision. But while you feel vindicated seeing him get his revenge, you also see how far off the edge he’s gone. Naomi Ackie is also great as Caitlyn Corr, who feels conflicted between wanting to help and worrying about the implications. Another notable cast member is Max Minghella as John Borrelli, Caitlyn’s fiancé and the only good cop in the GCPD. While he supports her and wants to see Matt’s attackers brought to justice, he doesn’t fully trust Matt either. Unfortunately, aside from disfiguring Matt, David Dencik makes for a weak villain, feeling more like a goon than a mobster. Thankfully, the small cast means there aren’t many characters to keep track of.
James Watkins does a great job utilizing minimal lighting and shadow to convey a sense of dread. The production design helps, making Gotham City feel dirty and lived-in, as if you stepped into 1970s New York. The practical effects are on point, bringing the body horror to life in gruesome, inventive ways. It’s also refreshing to see an R-rated comic book movie that embraces its rating, even throwing in some female nudity. Unfortunately, one of the film’s biggest flaws is the unnecessary love triangle between Matt, Caitlyn, and John. You can see where it’s coming from, but it ultimately goes nowhere and could’ve been cut. Aside from that and some pacing issues, this is still a fantastic slice of body horror that’s worth checking out. Overall, much like its titular character, Clayface is messy but comes together in the end.
Clayface is in theaters.
Where to watch Clayface (2026)
