The character of Clayface, originally a B-movie actor, evolved into the shapeshifting Matthew Hagen in the 1950s comics, gaining his abilities from radioactive exposure. This transformation has always lent itself to grotesque visual interpretations, and the new live-action film, starring Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, fully leans into this potential. The film's visual and makeup effects intentionally evoke the classic body horror cinema of the 1980s.

In an interview with SlashFilm, director James Watkins discussed the meticulous creation of these effects. While many would anticipate references to makeup legends like Rick Baker or Rob Bottin, or films renowned for their explicit gore, Watkins pointed to a different, less obvious influence. He acknowledged a nod to the legendary Stan Winston, but it was Winston's work on "The Terminator" that provided a crucial blueprint for "Clayface."

Watkins explained that the approach in "The Terminator" — which masterfully implies horror rather than always explicitly showing it — was key to calibrating the tone for "Clayface." "We didn't pull back a lot," Watkins stated, "but...sometimes showing more isn't always [right]." This philosophy guided a particularly impactful scene in "Clayface" involving eye surgery on an airplane.

Drawing a direct parallel, Watkins cited the iconic self-surgery scenes of the T-800 in "The Terminator." He noted, "if you see that scene when he cuts his eye or cuts his arm or any of that stuff, you do see some gnarly stuff, but also [the effect is] in the cutaways, the drops of blood in the sink, all that sort of stuff." This technique, where the audience's imagination is engaged to fill in the most gruesome details, makes the horror more effective. "Sometimes by implying more, actually you're not quite seeing as much as you think you see," Watkins added, emphasizing the power of suggestion.

By employing this subtle yet potent method, "Clayface" aims to deliver a body horror experience that resonates deeply without relying solely on overt gore. Just as "The Terminator" used clever, low-tech effects to achieve a realistic and chilling impact, "Clayface" leverages similar principles to enhance its shapeshifting terrors. The film is currently playing in theaters, offering audiences a chance to witness these artfully constructed effects firsthand.