‘Clayface’: Naomi Ackie, Tom Rhys Harries and James Watkins on DC’s Darkest Body Horror Story Yet

Naomi Ackie, Tom Rhys Harries and director James Watkins open up about the psychological horror, disturbing body transformation and tragic villain origin story at the heart of DC’s Clayface

RELATED: Clayface Trailer Drops Today: Everything You Need to Know.

DC is getting under the skin of superhero cinema with Clayface, a psychological body horror film that explores the disturbing transformation of Matt Hagen and the events that turn a man into one of Gotham’s most unsettling villains.

In an exclusive interview with WHO LET US OUT, stars Naomi Ackie and Tom Rhys Harries, alongside director James Watkins, discuss the film’s deeply tragic character arc, its gruesome horror elements and the emotional turmoil behind Clayface’s transformation. The conversation also touches on the film’s early buzz, comparisons to the psychological horror hit Obsession, and why audiences may find themselves questioning just how far they can sympathize with a character before he crosses an unforgivable line.

Rather than relying on gore for shock value alone, Clayface aims to explore the psychological and emotional consequences of losing one’s identity, reputation and the people who once offered unconditional support.

‘Clayface’ Is More Than a Villain Origin Story

At the center of Clayface is Matt Hagen, a character whose transformation into a monster is only part of a much more disturbing journey.

During the interview, the cast discussed how the film examines what happens when someone loses their reputation and discovers that the people around them are willing to abandon them. While the physical transformation is horrifying, the emotional betrayal may be even more unsettling.

One of the interview’s central questions explored whether it is more frightening to become a monster or to have the world suddenly treat you like one.

RELATED: Clayface Looks Like the Horror Movie Batman Fans Have Been Waiting For

The response highlighted the tragedy of Hagen’s circumstances: the physical monster becomes a representation of his emotional turmoil, while the speed with which people turn their backs on him makes the story disturbingly relatable.

As the discussion emphasized, the tragedy begins before the transformation is complete. It lies in how quickly loyalty disappears when someone no longer fits the image others have of them.

That emotional foundation gives Clayface a different perspective from a conventional superhero origin story. The film is interested not only in how a villain emerges, but also in the circumstances that lead a person toward becoming one.

Tom Rhys Harries’ Matt Hagen: When Sympathy Turns Into Fear

Although audiences may initially find themselves sympathizing with Matt Hagen, director James Watkins made it clear that Clayface ultimately tells a villain’s origin story rather than an antihero’s redemption arc.

Watkins explained that Hagen eventually crosses a moral and ethical line from which there is no return.

That distinction is central to the film’s tension. The audience is invited to follow Hagen’s journey and understand the experiences that shape him, but understanding his pain does not necessarily excuse what he does in response.

Watkins revealed that one of his goals in casting Tom Rhys Harries was to make audiences root for Hagen for as long as possible. He wants viewers to travel alongside the character, initially supporting him before gradually questioning that loyalty.

The experience is designed to provoke an uncomfortable question: At what point does sympathy become complicity?

As Hagen discovers his powers, the film takes audiences into increasingly dangerous territory. Watkins teased a particularly memorable sequence toward the end of the movie, when Hagen returns to a nightclub and begins to experience a dark sense of pleasure in what he can do.

Without revealing the scene’s full details, Watkins suggested that this moment captures the unsettling shift in Hagen’s relationship with his newfound abilities.

The horror isn’t simply watching a man become a monster. It’s watching him begin to embrace what that transformation allows him to do.

James Watkins on the Body Horror and Psychological Terror of ‘Clayface’

Known for his work in horror and psychological thrillers, Watkins approached Clayface as a character-driven story rather than a conventional sequence of scares.

He explained that two elements immediately stood out to him when he first read Mike Flanagan’s draft of the screenplay: the tragedy of the character and the opportunity to explore the deeply personal journey of a man becoming a monster.

For Watkins, horror works best when it gets under the audience’s skin emotionally as well as physically.

The relationship between Hagen and Caitlyn, played by Naomi Ackie, is an important part of that approach. Watkins described their relationship as central to the film’s emotional story, helping ground the disturbing transformation in a human connection.

The body horror, meanwhile, draws on something universally recognizable: anxiety about our own bodies and what can happen when they change beyond our control.

Watkins pointed to contemporary concerns surrounding medicine, artificial intelligence and biotechnology as part of the broader anxiety that body horror can explore. These fears make the genre especially effective because they connect fantastical transformations to real questions about identity, health and the limits of human control.

Rather than treating the gore as decoration, Clayface uses its horror to explore the relationship between physical transformation and psychological collapse.

Why ‘Clayface’ Is Being Compared to ‘Obsession’

With early buzz surrounding Clayface, the film has already begun drawing comparisons to Obsession, another psychological horror film that has generated excitement among genre fans.

When asked about the comparison, the interviewees praised Obsession and its ability to create a deeply unsettling psychological experience.

Watkins, meanwhile, admitted that the growing anticipation was somewhat daunting, but emphasized that his focus remained on making the best film possible.

He also expressed confidence in the film’s ability to connect with audiences, explaining that he had watched it with viewers and believed the theatrical experience was an important part of its appeal.

For Watkins, Clayface is designed to take audiences on a ride, building a collective reaction that can ripple through a theater.

The comparison to Obsession reflects the growing interest in psychological horror that prioritizes atmosphere, character and emotional unease alongside disturbing imagery. However, Watkins made clear that his priority was delivering the strongest version of Clayface, rather than trying to meet outside expectations.

Behind the Scenes: Tom Rhys Harries’ Transformation Into Clayface

The film’s disturbing transformation also created some memorable moments behind the scenes.

During the interview, Harries revealed that he occasionally used his appearance in character to surprise members of the crew. He also FaceTimed his girlfriend and parents while wearing the prosthetics, eventually becoming so familiar with the look that they grew accustomed to seeing him that way.

There was one particularly modern complication: his altered appearance sometimes prevented his phone’s facial recognition from working.

Harries recalled having to enter his passcode instead, turning the elaborate transformation into an unexpectedly ordinary inconvenience.

The anecdote offered a lighter moment during a conversation otherwise focused on the film’s darker themes. It also provided a glimpse into the practical realities of spending time in extensive prosthetics while portraying a character undergoing a horrifying physical change.

For a film built around body horror, even something as simple as unlocking a phone becomes part of the experience.

Filming Gotham in Liverpool and Exploring the DC Universe

Watkins also reflected on the experience of entering the DC universe and bringing Gotham to life.

He described filming on the streets of Liverpool as an exciting opportunity, comparing the environment to a giant train set that allowed the filmmakers to play within the world of Gotham.

Despite the pressure surrounding a major DC project, Watkins said he loved working with the cast and was pleased with the audience response he had witnessed so far.

When asked whether the film could lead to more stories involving these characters, Watkins stopped short of confirming any future plans. He said he did not know what the studio might have in store, reiterating that his focus had been on making Clayface as strong as possible.

For now, the film’s central ambition is clear: deliver a disturbing, character-focused horror experience that explores how a person can become a villain without losing the audience’s understanding of the human being underneath.

What Audiences Can Expect From ‘Clayface’

With its combination of psychological tension, body horror and a tragic character arc, Clayface is positioning itself as a darker entry in the DC universe.

The film explores the frightening consequences of losing one’s identity and the people who once offered support, while asking audiences to confront the uncomfortable difference between understanding a villain and excusing his actions.

Watkins’ approach places the emotional journey at the center of the horror, with the physical transformation serving as an expression of Hagen’s internal turmoil. Harries’ performance is designed to take audiences along that journey, encouraging them to root for the character before questioning whether they should continue doing so.

And if Watkins has his way, viewers will leave the theater debating exactly when their sympathy for Matt Hagen began to turn into fear.

Watch the full WHO LET US OUT interview with Naomi Ackie, Tom Rhys Harries and James Watkins for more on Clayface, the film’s psychological horror, its disturbing transformation sequences and the making of DC’s latest villain origin story.