Clayface Director Makes It Clear Who's To Blame If Fans Don't Like The DC Movie

Not a fan of "Clayface," the latest DC Studios movie? As director James Watkins told The Hollywood Reporter, there's really only one person you should blame, and that's him.

Watkins' "Clayface" is the third feature film in the DC Universe following James Gunn's "Superman" and Craig Gillespie's "Supergirl." Unlike those movies, however, "Clayface" is an R-rated horror flick, telling the tale of a rising Hollywood movie star (played by rising Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries) whose career is derailed after a gangster cuts up his face with a razor. When he agrees to undergo an experimental procedure to heal his facial injuries, though, it has horrific and unexpected side effects.

Critics have been mixed to positive on the film as a whole, with /Film's Chris Evangelista writing in his own "Clayface" review, "As far as these comic book villain spin-off movies go, it's fine." Indeed, the film's not terribly complex, emotionally speaking, but it is a lean revenge thriller with monster movie elements. I've personally described it as the okay-est knockoff of Sam Raimi's trail-blazing dark 1990 superhero flick "Darkman" yet.

Speaking to THR, Watkins noted that "Clayface," although a major motion picture released as part of a high-profile cinematic universe from a major mainstream studio, is still based on his personal vision. He added that the film's producers — including DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, as well as Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris — gave him plenty of creative leeway, allowing him to make "Clayface" exactly how he wanted. So, as he sees it, any complaints about the movie ought to be pointed in his direction.

During its interview with James Watkins, THR pointed out that studio-controlled superhero cinematic universes can be horrible for filmmakers, as directors are often treated like mere "grunts for hire." But Watkins, for his part, wanted to stress that he hadn't been dictated to or acted as an errand boy for a shadowy suite of executives. His experience, he said, was "excellent," adding "it's really easy for me to say that." To quote him directly:

"I'm not trying to fly the flag or do some party line; I genuinely did. Everything was straightforward with James, Peter, Matt, Lynn Harris, and everybody on the whole team." 

The screenplay for "Clayface" is credited to Mike Flanagan (who created Prime Video's "Carrie" TV series) and Oscar-nominee Hossein Amini ("Drive"), and Watkins revealed that he was able to give a little input of his own to boot. As such, he will happily take the blame for any of the film's perceived shortcomings:

"When I first read Mike Flanagan's script, I really wanted to lean into and honor the fact that he called it 'a tragedy in three acts' [...] but still do everything you can to root for the character. So, after I read Mike's script, I pitched a version of the film that everyone signed up to do, and they supported me all the way through in trying to achieve that version. I say to people, if you don't like the film, you can't blame them. It's on me because I had all the support." 

There is something freeing, I'd think, about being able to shoulder that responsibility.