If there’s any genre that’s been in a rough space this decade, it’s the Superhero one. After a 2010s of near cultural dominance with many billion-dollar hits, the past few years have shown signs of regression and fatigue with the franchises that practically defined blockbusters beforehand. There are still occasional hits, but those either feel like exceptions or are films that double down on nostalgia rather than building something new. There needs to be a sort of shakeup with what kinds of superhero films get made and what they focus on. The expanding and sprawling cinematic universe seems to be out of style, and people want something new. It just so happens that we may have gotten a look at a potential path forward with a recent new trailer regarding the next DC film this year: Clayface.
I previously discussed this film a few months back regarding how the pitch for a body horror Clayface movie was a good idea. It’s a low-risk venture due to its relatively lower budget and how horror has a built-in appeal at the box office that tends to easily cover said budget. There is also the fact that the focus on more genre-centric superhero films might be the key to giving new life to these types of films. The new trailer, while brief, has backed up my perception not just in what was shown, but in how there has been a lot of attention given to this project.
It focuses on Matt Hagen, one of the two names usually given to the character, and how he goes into an experimental treatment to heal his face after it is brutally mangled by a knife attack. The treatment slowly transforms his body, and he has to grapple with slowly losing his humanity and turning into a literal monster. I think that the look of the film is very appealing. It’s being shot by Rob Hardy, who worked on Alex Garland’s films and Mission Impossible: Fallout. He is also doing Supergirl this year. Though I personally feel his skills and his talents are honestly showing a lot more here. Superhero blockbusters have to contend with the issues that many big-budget films have these days, regarding the visuals not looking the best or having odd quirks due to oversight or a lot of moving parts. This being a smaller-scale horror film seemingly allows it to embrace a more refined and cleaner look. The visual effects also look really good and really do sell Hagen having his body literally melt and turn into a malleable material.
I also think an appeal of this film is the fact that they chose a relatively unknown actor to play the lead. This tends to work out well with superhero projects, most famously seen with Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. Tom Rhys Harries has appeared in stuff like Doctor Who, but never been given the chance to flex his acting skills as a lead on a project this big. I think he’s done a good job showing a lot with a little. That horrified stare underneath the bandages showcases a lot of powerful emotions, and it underpins the whole trailer. There’s also Naomi Ackie, who I am very happy to see here. She’s become an up-and-coming performer, and I really liked her in Mickey 17 since she showcased a lot of fun personality there. Considering that she’s going to play the doctor who gives Hagen the treatment and a potential conflict of love, it might be a very different sort of performance compared to that one.
The question about this film going in was regarding Mike Flanagan’s participation. He was the one who pitched the idea years ago and was the one who wrote the script that got the project greenlit. However, conflicts with both his Carrie miniseries and his new Exorcist movie meant he was unable to direct, and James Watkins was chosen in his place. While it is a bit upsetting that one of the most acclaimed horror directors isn’t seeing this project all the way through, Gunn has reiterated that Mike’s vision and script are being maintained since it was the driving force for the project, and that any additional writing was Watkins making minor changes to suit the direction he wanted. If the overall story and character outlines remain the same, then I think we might have something great here. While the other writer, Hossein Amini, doesn’t have the best track record (I don’t think Snow White and the Huntsman is something you should put on your resume), he did work with Watkins closely before on the tv show McMafia so they have a working relationship and it’s likely he’s just here to touch up a few things since the story credit is still solely Flannigan’s.
The fact that this has gotten over 18 million views on TikTok and 12 million on YouTube tells me that this gamble might pay off. Horror in general has seen far more acclaim and reappraisal over the past few years, and the genre in general has been adaptable to shifts and has always remained relevant in one way or another. Weapons and Sinners succeeding both critically and financially with Oscars to boot indicates how horror has become more accepted and beloved as a genre, even in circles that once rejected it. Having a film that not only taps into this but also expands the possibilities of what a DC film can do is beneficial since it gets more people’s attention and presents new opportunities for future projects. I’ve personally gotten my fill of the basic superhero action blockbuster and feel that we really need a new era of more interesting and experimental projects with these characters. That is how the comics evolved as well, going from simple adventure stories to a wide variety, so I think that should be the direction the films need to go.
