DC Studios debuts its first R-rated horror feature, Clayface, in North American theaters today, banking on a modest budget and a gritty Gotham setting to steer the superhero brand away from recent box-office stumbles.
Warner Bros. projects an opening domestic haul between $25 million and $30 million for Clayface across more than 3,400 North American theaters. It opens alongside an international start of $20 million to $25 million.
DC's ‘CLAYFACE’ debuts with 77% on Rotten Tomatoes.Read our review: https://t.co/h4QUB7mq6U pic.twitter.com/jEBrJJp4tE
Directed by James Watkins and produced under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe banner, the picture arrives in cinemas carrying a production budget of about $40 million.
That lean price tag sets it apart from previous franchise entries. While last year’s Superman kicked off the DC Universe’s film side, the studio’s summer release Supergirl faltered with a $170 million budget and a $126 million global finish, incurring heavy losses for the studio.
"Clayface delivers the sort of psychological depth and emotional resonance that enable it to bear comparisons to the works of such body horror maestros as David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi." Have I told you what a pleasure it's been working with director James Watkins on this… pic.twitter.com/jTl2yB7TdV
Clayface enters the weekend holding a 75 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It outperforms the 52 percent score earned by Supergirl.
Tom Rhys Harries Leads the Cast
The film follows Matt Hagen, an ambitious actor who rises from the streets of Gotham to cinematic success, only to have a crime boss leave his face brutally disfigured.
‘CLAYFACE’ works best when it leans into gruesome body horror and campy horror fun.Find out more in our review… https://t.co/I3hf0osFUI
Desperate to restore his appearance and career, Hagen turns to an experimental scientist, Dr. Caitlyn Corr, played by Naomi Ackie, who tests nanocell technology on him.
You have a character who’s just trying to push through certain obstacles that are physical initially, and then psychological.
Tom Rhys Harries, via The Hindu
The treatment yields horrific side effects. Hagen plunges into a violent spiral of revenge as his own flesh turns against him.
Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini are credited with the screenplay. It began life as a script from acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan and was inspired by the dual-episode storyline Feat of Clay from Batman: The Animated Series.
The main cast features Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie. Rob Hardy handled cinematography.
James Watkins Reinvents Gotham City
As the first feature in the new DC Universe to showcase live-action Gotham City, the production aimed to establish a distinct aesthetic.
Watkins aimed for a vintage, textured feel.
The creative team drew on German Expressionist cinema from the 1930s and New York street photography to craft a grimy underworld.
Clayface Faces Competition from A24 Documentary
Clayface faces box-office competition in its opening weekend from A24’s expanding three-hour documentary You Can See Everything.
Future DC Universe Appearances Are Not Yet Confirmed
Though studio executives intend for the shape-shifting villain to return, DC has not yet confirmed where or when Matt Hagen will next appear.
James Gunn’s upcoming Man of Tomorrow is scheduled for release on July 9 next year, but no role has been announced for the character there, nor in the planned Batman feature The Brave and the Bold.