New CLAYFACE Trailer Delivers a Twisted DC Body Horror Nightmare
DC Studios could really use a win right now after the box office and critical disappointment of Supergirl, and if this new trailer is any indication, Clayface might be exactly what the studio needs.
I was already looking forward to this movie after that unsettling teaser, but this latest trailer has me even more excited. It doesn't lean quite as hard into the nightmare fuel body horror that first preview delivered, but it's still deeply creepy in all the right ways.
And yes, that eerie version of The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" is still there, giving the whole thing an unsettling emotional edge.
Out of every villain hiding in Gotham's rogues gallery, Clayface probably wasn't at the top of anyone's list for a solo movie. It's one of those choices that makes you stop and wonder, "Really?"
But that's also exactly why this project has become one of the most intriguing films DC Studios has in development. Instead of playing it safe, the studio is taking a chance on one of Batman's strangest villains, and the result looks unlike anything else in the comic book movie genre.
Directed by James Watkins, Clayface isn't trying to be another superhero spectacle packed with flashy action sequences. Under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, DC Studios is steering this movie straight into horror territory.
The vibe feels much closer to something you'd expect from David Cronenberg than a traditional comic book adaptation. It's disturbing, uncomfortable, and honestly kind of awesome.
The story centers on Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries, whose life takes a devastating turn after finally making it big.
Matt Hagen's meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss's actions leave him horribly disfigured. Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self… but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge.
The trailer gives Harries plenty of room to shine, teasing a tragic character whose transformation is about much more than becoming another Batman villain.
This version of Clayface looks like someone slowly losing his identity as his body and mind spiral further out of control. That emotional angle makes the horror feel even more unsettling, and I'm really interested to see how far the movie pushes that descent. This trailer is packed with unsettling imagery.
The movie also stars Naomi Ackie, with a screenplay from Mike Flanagan, whose ability to mix genuine emotion with terrifying horror has made him one of the most exciting storytellers working today.
Flanagan's involvement alone was enough to grab my attention, but seeing how Watkins is bringing this twisted story to life has me fully on board. Hopefully, they director and new writing didn’t mess up Flanagan’s script as bad as I head they have.
Regardless, I love that DC Studios is taking chances with projects like this. Instead of following the familiar comic book formula, Clayface looks like it's embracing psychological horror, tragic drama, and grotesque body horror.
Clayface hits theaters on October 23, and I can't wait to see how far it goes.