Clayface

 

       If you're into grotesque body horror revenge thrillers, it doesn't get much better than this. From a story by Mike Flanagan and directed by James Watkins, "Clayface" is based on the DC Comics character featured in the pages of Batman. 

       The film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an up and coming actor, recently nominated for an Academy Award. When he sleeps with the wrong woman, the girlfriend of a notorious gangster,  he pays the price of having his face horribly disfigured. Naomi Ackie co-stars as Dr. Caitlyn Corr, a scientist experimenting with nanobots that can restore skin and other tissue.  Hagen reaches out to her to use his experimental treatment on him and the story gets pretty crazy from that point on.

        Also co-starring are David Dencik as the mobster Markos, Max Minghella as Detective (and Dr. Corr's boyfriend) John Borrelli, Joshua James as Corey Bowery (Hagen's best friend and fellow actor) and Eddie Marsan as sleazy lawyer, Frank Fitzpatrick. Ms. Ackie and Mr. Watkins develop good on screen chemistry (pun intended) and add depth and emotion to the story.

        Once Hagen becomes "Clayface" (now he can actually mold his face and body to look like anyone), he sets out to get revenge on Markos and everyone who has betrayed him. The film takes it's time to get going but after Hagen's treatment, his body horror begins as the nanobots react with his physical and even mental state.  The murders get grislier with each revengeful kill. 

        Mr. Watkins and his team do a terrific job on the special effects, which at times, can be pretty repulsive. It's a insane concept but if you are a fan of this genre or the comic it's based on, you'll have bloody good time.