James Gunn’s latest DCU entry, Clayface, has arrived in theaters with a focus on R-rated body horror. The story tracks Matt Hagen's evolution through Gotham's dark streets.
A 75% Rotten Tomatoes score for Gotham's newest monster
The film has achieved significant critical and audience tratcion, securing a 75% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 92% audience score, according to the repot. This success marks a pivotal moment for James Gunn’s expanding DC Universe, following his recent work on Superman and Supergirl. By leaning into the R-rated body horror genre, the production establishes a much darker, more visceral tone for the franchise.
This stylistic choice allows the film to explore the psyche of a villain with a raw edge that traditional superhero movies often avoid. By focusing on the grotesque nature of Hagen's transformation, Gunn is signaling a shift toward a more mature, high-stakes atmosphere for the DCU's evolving landscape.
Matt Hagen's transformation in the underground tunnels
The narrative follows Matt Hagen, a middle-aged street punk who undergoes a terrifying transformation after a twisted encounter in Gotham's underground tunnels. the film adopts a "London-style" live-action aesthetic to depict urban decay, which the report compares to the "Hoxton-labelled" settings seen in Gunn's previous projects. As Hagen evolves from a simple hustler into a grotesque, gelatinous shapeshifter, the film utilizes cinematographic quirks and constant camera wobbles to heighten the terror of his street-level vendettas.
Amidst this chaos, the character John Borrelli is introduced as a tentative ally in the city's struggle against the new threat. This interaction provides a human element to a story otherwise dominated by the surreal and the monstrous.
Amusement Mile and the visual cues for The Brave and the Bold
Although Bruce Wayne is never physically present on screen, his influence is woven into the narrative through the Wayne Community Center. This setting suggests that the Wayne family’s community outreach programs are a vital part of Gotham's social fabric, hinting that the Dark Knight is keeping a watchful eye on the city. The report also highlights several specific visual cues intended to prepare audiences for The Brave and the Bold, including references to "Amusement Mile" and a scarred, uncanny mouth design.
These elements, combined with high-definition shots of a city presented as a "living nightmare," create a thematic foundation for the DCU's first official Batman movie. The film uses the setting of Gotham to reflect broader societal issues of inequality and corruption, setting a heavy narrative tone for the caped crusader's eventual arrival.
The mystery of the DCU's connection to Matt Reeves
While the film provides a strong foundation, several elements of the broader DCU roadmap remain unverified. As the report suggests, there is ambiguity regarding how this version of Gotham will eventually integrate with the world of Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II, which fans anticipate for an early 2028 release. Furthermore, while the film hints at the arrival of Damian Wayne in future chapters, the exact narrative bridge between Hagen's story and the next major milestone remains an open question.
There are also unanswered questions regarding the state of law enforcement in this iteration of the city. While Sheriff Gordon is implied to be a largely ineffective figure, his actual role and the level of cooperation between him and characters like John Borrelli remain largely unconfirmed by the source.
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