Clayface the Villain of Many Shapes

John M. Delia Jr

5 minutes ago

3 min read

In the world of detective comics comes a new personality to the big screen, that eventually will face our hero of the Gotham universe. This mysterious villain gives us another look at the ugliness that revenge can reveal as a path of destruction forms through the dark streets of this great city. Here is an example of what you can do if no one can identify the culprit of any crime and is it possible for you to find a way to get away with anything you may have done?

Living in the bright lights and glamorous crowd of high society, Matt Hagen/Clayface (Tom Rhys Harries), an up-and-coming actor from Coast City, begins to see what his future has in store for him when he is up for a prestigious award. While travelling to Gotham City to begin shooting his new film, things go awry for our newfound friend, and Matt finds himself in a predicament that changes his life. After running into Gotham City mob boss Markos Szabo’s (David Dencik) girlfriend Mia Torrez, (Joana Ribeiro) at a local night club he sees the mistake he has made and pays the punishment Markos goons, Bones (Will Coban) and Patches (Jake Curran), have in store for him.

Now having to deal with the media, doctors, and the public, Matt turns to his accountant (Eddie Marsan) to help fix everything. When not getting the results he needs, Matt finds his life slipping away and has nowhere to turn. With the desire to get his life back, Matt seeks out Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a scientist who might have the cure he seeks. Here is where everything transforms into the weird predicament that becomes Matt’s new psyche. Trying to keep things together, as this realm begins to find strange outcomes that cannot be determined, John Borrelli (Max Minghella), a Gotham City police detective must figure out who is turning this domain upside down.

Creating a storyline about a famous good guy who becomes bad is not always an easy task, but director James Watkins presents an outstanding and wonderful rendition of one of Batman’s foes. Not only is the narrative spectacular, the makeup, computer-generated-imagery (CGI), and special effects steal the show. The way everything blends and is used throughout the movie helps it seem believable and realistic, as our character transitions from one person to another and back to the creature he has become. Keeping with the theme of the comic’s James puts together a fun and exhilarating quest through the life of Matt Hagen. Let’s not forget the excellent performance from the cast, that included Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie who were successfully able to carry the tale as these two individuals became entangled with this new predicament that was forced upon them.

This amazing adventure into the dark side of madness brings us all on a rollercoaster journey through the mind of Matt Hagen and allows us to experience the pain and anguish he ordeals. An exceptional event worth encountering at the theater so you can fully endure what the director has intended. Keep in mind, there are some gory parts during the flick that may not be enjoyable to those who avoid those kinds of motion pictures.

Final Comment: I based my grade on magnificent presentation of the film's special effects, the marvelous performance from the talent, and the exceptional storyline.

Stars 4.25 out of 5