When it comes to comic book movies, I always love how each film is a different take from the original comic. They can be dark and gloomy, or goofy and fun for every audience. It’s fun to how actors and directors portray the different character to fit in what they think said character would be.

Recently James Watkins ‘Clayface‘ came out October 23 of this year, and lets just says it instantly became one of my favorite comic book movie. From the body horror to the slow burn of the story, it captured me in having me wanting to see what’s going to happen next.

Clayface follows actor Matt Hagen who came from a Gotham street kid to a becoming a Hollywood leading man. This fame was cut short when a local crime boss leaves him disfigured. He seeks out treatment that can return him to his former self, but it starts to transform him both physically and mentally.

While Clayface is one of the many Batman villains, the movie doesn’t have any mention of the or appearance at all. This is a refresher, giving our character Matt Hagen his own spotlight. With Clayface having grossed $44 million opening weekend in the United States, this movie shows that you can make a great supervillian movie without having its superhero counterpart being present in any way.

While this isn’t the first R-rated film for DC Studios, with Joker, The Suicide Squad, Constantine, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, etc., it shows that Clayface can blur the lines of a traditional superhero movie and horror. This introduces new DC fans and horror fans to a new side of DC.

So why did I enjoy this movie? Easy. Unlike other comic book movies, this gives those who love the Blade movies, The Crow, Constantine, and The Batman feel seen. This move is filled with dark settings, despair, horror, and some psychological elements. Watching the movie, you feel like sympathizing with the character and the unfortunate events that are happening to him, but quickly realize why he’s a villain and how he ends up they way he does.

While this movie does feel a little rushed in the beginning, it’s understandable as they want to quickly give you the important information. What I think this film does correct is making you feel uncomfortable during it’s body horror scenes. Watching this film I was immediately feeling the discomfort during many of the horror scenes. As someone who gets queasy around anything blood related, this film defiantly does what it wanted to do. Despite this I just couldn’t look away. It’s intriguing how graphic Clayface can get, considering this is the only reason they got the R-rating, only having around 50 to 60 curse words said throughout the movie.

With the movie being fairly new, only being out for a week I have a strong feeling this movie will pave way for more darker comic book films, with the hope that other villain can get a movie or at the very least a series.

I defiantly recommend this film if you loved movies like The Joker or The Batman, since they are similar in their setting and making the audience feel the uneasiness of the characters.