FILM REVIEW: CLAYFACE (18) ESP RATING: 3.5/5
James Gunn’s fledgling DC Universe makes an interesting horror detour – and it absolutely pays off.
Iconic Batman comic-book villain Clayface gets a violent R-rated origin story, and moulds something that is competently solid, with a little bit of heart thrown in.
Arguably better than what anyone was really expecting – which is a massive compliment – especially after the summer blockbuster disappointment of Supergirl.
Rising movie star Matt Hagen – played by relatively unknown Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries who starred in The Gentleman – has got the world at his feet after grabbing his first Oscar nod.
But while celebrating his nomination at a Gotham nightclub with best friend Corey (Joshua James), he ends up sleeping with the girlfriend (Joana Ribeiro) of local mob boss Markos Szabo (David Dencik).
When Hagen awakens from his ill-advised romp, Szabo and his cronies are waiting for him, and brutally disfigure his face in a quite horrifically graphic scene. The mobster then pays off everyone who dares to put him at the scene of the crime – discrediting the young actor in the process – and leaves Hagen penniless after he spends all his finances on attempts at plastic surgery and a civil trial.
Literally turning his life upside down in a matter of weeks.
Desperate, and with nowhere to turn, he learns of Dr Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie from I Wanna Dance with Somebody), who is developing a nanite treatment capable of rapidly healing damaged tissue and skin – and begs her to volunteer as a test subject. Which after initial hesitation, is encouraged to do so by her detective fiancée John (Max Minghella).
The treatment then initially succeeds as he confidently makes a return to public life with his face apparently restored. But when it begins to melt, Hagen injects himself with a larger dose of nanites, which just doesn’t cure the problem, but learns he can instantly recover from any injury.
Further still – after discovering people close to him had double-crossed him – he realises his face melts when stressed, but when in control, he can impersonate anyone he touches.
And when Szabo threatens Caitlyn, he goes after him and his clan during a brutal sequence of vengeance in the mobster’s club – with the nanites having taken him to a new level of aggression and violence.
Fortunately the movie upgrades from what could have been perceived as generic fare, due to likeable turns from both Rhys Harries and Ackie in the primary roles – which gives the body horror an emotional and sympathetic underbelly.
It does have a middle third that falls a bit flat after the enticing opening, but by the finale it pulls it back round to be an admirably worthwhile addition to the new DC canon.
In fact seeing where Clayface goes – apparently he will potentially fit into the world of the new Batman, and not Robert Pattinson’s current iteration in a different universe – will be very interesting, as cinema-goers definitely want more, especially after some great audience scores on its opening weekend.
It may have lacked the proper depth to take it to greatness, but there’s still undoubtedly plenty to enjoy here – as the DC saves face with this surprisingly impressive monster mash.
ESP Rating: 3.5/5
Gavin Miller
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now
Cast: Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, David Dencik, Eddie Marsan, Joshua James, Joana Ribeiro & Rob Brydon
Running Time: 1 Hr 48 Mins
Director: James Watkins
Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough
For All the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk
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