James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe continues with an origin story for a popular Batman villain that is genuinely a horror story. With a story and script by Mike Flanagan (Hush, Doctor Sleep), the movie re-envisions Clayface as a body-horror tragedy. Flannagan co-wrote the screenplay with Hossein Amini, and James Watkins directs. The result is a movie that plays out more or less as Batman fans would expect, but it’s still an entertaining, gnarly ride.

Born and raised in Gotham City’s Narrows, Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys-Harries) is living the “local boy makes good” story. The Gotham native’s star is rising as he achieves success and acclaim as a Hollywood actor. After hearing about his Oscar nomination, Hagen and his friends decide to celebrate at one of the city’s exclusive dance clubs. There he encounters actor Mia Torrez (Joana Ribeiro), who happens to be in a very randy mood. Despite his buddy Corey Bowery’s warning that Torrez is the lover of Gotham gangster Markos Szabo (David Dencik), Hagen goes home with her. The next morning, Szabo and his thugs attack him and butcher his face.

This violent act and disfigurement totally destroy Hagen’s life and career. Desperate to recover everything he lost, Matt turns to medical scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), who has created a medical treatment using nanotechnology and AI to repair and rebuild human tissue. However, the risky procedure he undergoes comes with some disturbing side effects.

As I previously stated, James Watkins’ Clayface doesn’t necessarily reinvent the Batman villain’s origin story, but leans heavily on the horrific elements of his metamorphosis. Anyone with basic knowledge of the character’s lore will find no surprises in his story here. In fact, Flannagan, Amini, and Watkins could have developed the protagonist and story better to make him more worthy of empathy and his eventual fate more tragic. The movie moves a bit too quickly and glosses over Hagen’s backstory.

However, not everything about the movie is wrong. When it leans into the body-horror aspects and Hagen starts to use his abilities well, the film becomes a more enjoyable, entertaining thriller. The movie becomes a revenge story as Hagen seeks out the ones responsible for his disfigurement and those who betrayed him. And for a movie set in the DCU and in Batman’s domain, it does its own thing, free of other DCU references, including the Dark Knight himself.

Most of the supporting cast’s acting ranges from good to fine, but the definite standout is Rhys-Harries, who portrays Matt Hagen/Clayface. He is certainly charming as “Hollywood” Matt Hagen before his tragic incident, and he portrays the character well afterward, broken and slowly descending into anger and madness. If Gunn and Saffran proceed with making the character part of Batman’s rogues’ gallery, I sincerely hope Rhys-Davies will remain part of those plans.

Clayface isn’t exactly exceptional, but it’s watchable and enjoyable, and I recommend it, perhaps as a matinee or to watch at home later when it is available to stream. If you’re not a fan of body horror movies, I wouldn’t pursue it, but it is often a very uncomfortable watch for anyone who is squeamish.