Clayface – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Clayface – An Act of the Unmasking: A Gotham Origin  

Life is defined by our ideas of the folly and unfortunate.  The twist and turns add to one’s journey, but it also brings to light an aspect of choice.  We may bend one way, but what happens if we break for another.  It is an alluring thought, one that pushes ideas to new paths of the unknown … especially in film.  When life can weave through the typical, it can make anything feel real … even a comic book tale.  In this review, I look at the latest from DC Studios.  Through a different spin of an origin tale, Clayface is a twisted journey into what it means to wear a different mask.

When a rising movie star faces an unfathomed situation, he must make serious choices to take back his life … which will forever change his world.  Stories are a path into worlds of the unexpected.  From the grounded to the surreal, we dive into new journeys with a hope that there will be an emotional pull.  For comic books, it becomes a place to spin the idea of might with a cunningness that is purposeful and awe inspiring.  At times this is great, but there is always a new way to take comic book lore into a different direction.  With this latest entry from DC Studios, they pull from Batman’s rogue gallery to create a tale with interesting results.  We come into this film through the drop-in method, meeting our main character, Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Marries).  He is a rising star who has achieved some accolades in the initial stages of his movie career.  After scenes that build upon simple foundational elements, Hagen ends up in a situation that causes him to get mutilated by the mob in Gotham City.  This leads through a series of convenient plot driven scenes, setting up Hagen contacting Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) for help fixing his face.  This is the point where the film slowly shifts from its origin roots, leading down a path where we witness man devolve into manic ideas, seeking revenge for those that destroyed his career.  As the journey becomes a methodical complexion of a ‘man on a mission,’ we get to see this spin of comic book lore that pushes the idea of what it means to have power.  The mantra of choice leads to scenes where ‘good and bad’ become a haze of truth.  As you watch Hagen deal with his own unique bodily horror moments, you also see a man struggling to define who he is.  From the endearment to anger, you see a range of emotions that conflict with the idea of what it means to do the right thing.  It is a complexion of typical motifs spun in a creative manner, leading to our lead character slowly unravel in enthralling and terrifying ways.

As Hagen slowly comes to terms with his new ‘powers,’ he also (through convenient plotting) uncovers the reason behind his career downfall.  As the culprits come out into the light, this continues the film’s transition into a tale of revenge.  It is in these scenes that we watch Hagen confront those individuals, leading to a hazy complexion of ‘good vs. bad.’  As truth becomes layered in the idea of choice, you watch the manic slowly build within Hagen, leading to him seeing that right and wrong become one in the same.  With one final confrontation looming, we head into the final act of unrelenting thrills and suspense that build up to a full circle climax.  Clayface is a film of intriguing complexion.  If you are a fan of DC comics, horror or origin tales, this is one for you.  I believe this can be a good time at the theaters.

Full Score – 3.5 out of 5 (Matinee)