What’s it about?

Matt Hagen had the world at his feet – a handsome and talented leading man who has his bright future torn away when he’s brutally disfigured after a chance encounter with a Gotham mob boss. An experimental treatment promises to give him his life back, but with some unexpected side effects that leave him spiralling out of control.

What’d we think?

Clayface is a grimy underworld tale of betrayal and revenge that will have you squirming in your seat in the best possible way. Tom Rhys Harries kills it in the title role, convincingly portraying a bloke whose sanity slips away nearly as much as the skin on his face. On that note, the visual effects are shockingly gruesome at times, not shying away from Matt’s disfigurement in the early scenes, and delivering some uncomfortably icky setpieces as Matt comes to terms with his new flesh.

Standalone comic book villain movies have proven to be a risky proposition, all too often trying to turn irredeemable rogues into anti-heroes the audience can cheer for (Venom) or clunkily trying to turn a one-note villain into an anti-hero (looking at you, Kraven). Clayface takes a decidedly different approach, giving us plenty of reasons to sympathise with Matt as his life (and face) is torn apart, but making it clear that he’s approaching a moral event horizon.

I absolutely loved Clayface, it’s essential viewing for body horror fans this Halloween.