Clayface critics compare Tom Rhys Harries to Demi Moore in The Substance

So, DC Studios have clearly decided not to muck about when it comes to their latest, and frankly grotesque, big-screen offering: Clayface. Helmed by James Watkins, we’ve got Tom Rhys Harries in full transformative mode as Matt Hagen, a Hollywood actor who winds up on the wrong end of a brutal attack and, desperate to rebuild himself, tries an experimental treatment. Spoiler: it works, sort of, but with the sort of side effects you’d get if you mixed Frankenstein with a method actor on the verge of a breakdown. Bodies do things here that really ought to remain theoretical.

Clayface currently sits at 74% on Rotten Tomatoes.

If you’re thinking this sounds more disturbing than your average DC fare, you’re not alone. Critics have clocked onto both Harries’ turn and the film’s generously ‘icky’ approach to the horror. A few reviewers have started comparing Harries to Demi Moore in last year’s The Substance – that’s proper body horror cred, considering Moore wound up getting an Oscars nod for her freaky transformation as Elisabeth Sparkle, the washed-up celeb who literally melts into a younger version of herself.

The Oddball Cast

The Times gave a thumbs up to Harries’ performance, saying he’s ‘channelling Demi Moore in The Substance’ – which, let’s be honest, is quite a compliment (or an insult, depending how fond you are of seeing actors disintegrate). Naomi Ackie also turns heads, with her character apparently riffing on Elizabeth Holmes in biotech mode. Even Rob Brydon pops up, playing a smooth-talking chat show host. The whole thing is a bit of a British invasion, with the film itself a strange collision of body horror, Hollywood crime drama, and late-night telly banter.

Time Out was even less subtle, labelling Clayface as ‘one of the ickiest body horrors since The Substance’. The New York Post decided the film’s relentless gross-out factor is fun, in a very Cronenbergian way – which, if you ask me, is the most polite way to say ‘don’t watch this while eating’.

The Awards Angle

So, with all these comparisons swirling about and the fact that Moore actually nabbed a nomination for her own shape-shifting nightmares in The Substance, you might think Harries is a shoo-in for awards season too. Not so fast. Right now, Clayface is sitting on a 74% Rotten Tomatoes score – respectable, but not exactly ‘clear a space on the mantelpiece’ material. Critics seem split: plenty applaud the hard-hitting performances, but some reckon the story gets lost in all the viscera.

Let’s not forget – Moore’s Best Actress nomination was a bit of a shocker but came about largely because The Substance worked some festival magic and had the kind of relentless campaign that makes voters take things seriously. Clayface hasn’t quite managed that same level of hype, and being a comic book film is always a bit of a hurdle for awards-season snobs. Unless the critical buzz keeps gelling through autumn, Harries is more likely getting a pat on the back than an invite to the podium. Still, not a bad place to be for a British actor making his mark with this sort of material.