‘Clayface’ First Reactions Are Positive

Take it for what it’s worth, but the first reactions on social media for James Watkins’ “Clayface” hint at something good. The review embargo lifts next Wednesday.

First reactions are almost always glowing, and this is no exception. Still, the consensus is notably specific, which counts for something. People are saying this is a genuinely hard-R, gnarly body-horror movie that doesn’t wuss out. There are plenty of comparisons to “Darkman,” “The Fly,” and “The Substance.” Reactions below.

I have no idea how this one will turn out. It’s very hard to tell, even with a few trailers now in the bank. The marketing has leaned so heavily on mood and gross-out moments that it’s still unclear whether there’s any depth to this thing, and a tragic-villain origin story lives or dies on that.

The good news is that the budget isn’t too high, which leaves room for creative freedom, and it’s rated R, which could make all the difference in the world, especially in the horror genre.

The story centers on a rising movie actor who turns to a mysterious substance in a desperate bid to stay relevant, a premise that inevitably invites comparisons to recent body-horror films exploring fame, identity, and physical transformation.

Watkins is one of those British genre guys who has never quite gotten his due, and also never quite earned it. When he’s good, he’s really good. “Eden Lake” was one of the nastier British horror films of the century, with a young Michael Fassbender, and that ending made the film far better than it had any right to be. “The Woman in Black” was old-school Hammer craftsmanship done right. And his “Black Mirror” episode “Shut Up and Dance” is a standout. But then there’s his other stuff. He wrote “The Descent: Part 2.” He made “Bastille Day,” a generic Idris Elba Euro-actioner nobody remembers. And there’s “McMafia.” His “Speak No Evil” was a more polished version of the original. So which Watkins shows up for “Clayface”?

“Clayface” hits theaters on October 23, right before Halloween. Tom Rhys Harries leads a cast that includes Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, and Eddie Marsan.