CLAYFACE Director Reveals How Sam Raimi's EVIL DEAD Inspired DC's Wild Horror Movie
If you were hoping Clayface would fully embrace its horror roots, it sounds like that's exactly what's headed our way. We already knew DC Studios wasn't treating this as a typical comic book movie, but director James Watkins has now revealed that one of horror's most iconic filmmakers had a major influence on what audiences are about to see.
Speaking with Empire, Watkins explained that Sam Raimi's fearless approach to horror, especially in the Evil Dead films, helped inspire the tone of Clayface. It's an exciting comparison because Raimi has always had a knack for taking horror to outrageous extremes while making audiences enjoy every second of the madness.
"There were definitely some Sam Raimi influences. The way that Sam Raimi can push horror almost to ridiculousness, and humor. I mean ridiculousness in a good way.
“But pushing it where we're all walking that line of 'Oh man this is extreme, and we know it's extreme and we're in it together.' The boldness of what he does."
That's a pretty awesome creative blueprint for a character like Clayface. Raimi changed the horror landscape with the Evil Dead franchise, mixing gruesome practical effects, over-the-top body horror, and twisted comedy in a way that countless filmmakers have borrowed from over the years.
Of course, he also made the jump from horror to superheroes with his beloved Spider-Man trilogy in the early 2000s, so there's an interesting connection there as Watkins follows a similar path.
Clayface also happens to be one of the few Batman villains perfectly suited for full-on body horror. The trailers have teased Matt Hagen's disturbing physical deterioration, including the unsettling shot of his eyelids sticking together, but fans still haven't seen the character completely transform into the monstrous shape-shifting creature from the comics.
Watkins has previously confirmed that the movie's complete transformation sequence won't appear in any promotional footage, meaning audiences will have to experience that moment for the first time when they see the film in theaters.
Everything we've heard and seen from Clayface suggests this won't simply sprinkle horror elements into a superhero story. It's aiming to be a genuine horror movie that just happens to exist in the DC Universe.
That creative direction makes perfect sense considering Watkins, whose previous horror credits include See No Evil and The Woman in Black, is working from a screenplay by horror master Mike Flanagan, which, apparently, they changed alot.
The film centers on the Hollywood actor version of Clayface, Matt Hagen, and early reactions from members of the press who viewed footage have described it as "violent" and "highly disturbing."
Watkins also revealed another filmmaker who had a huge impact on the movie. Watkins went on to say that another "massive inspiration" is Brian De Palma. "When you see the movie, you'll see.”
While Brian De Palma is widely known for crime classics like Scarface and The Untouchables, horror fans also remember him for directing the unforgettable 1976 adaptation of Carrie.
Mixing Raimi's energetic, over-the-top horror with De Palma's stylish psychological tension could make Clayface one of the most unique DC movies we've seen.
Between the horror pedigree of Watkins and Flanagan, the disturbing footage that's already been described by early viewers, and these latest comments about Raimi's influence, Clayface is shaping up to be something far more unsettling than your average comic book adaptation.
We'll find out just how far DC is willing to push things when Clayface hits theaters on October 23.