Clayface, one of the boldest comic films in recent years, shot scenes in Greater Manchester and Liverpool. Directed by James Watkins, known for horror films The Woman in Black and Speak No Evil, the movie follows Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), an actor who lands his first Oscar nomination. After a violent encounter with gangsters and losing support from everyone around him, Matt has nowhere to go until he meets scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie).
Plot and Cast
In a nod to The Fly, Caitlyn experiments on Matt, whose body turns to clay. He begins losing his sanity as he can no longer recognise himself. The film also features Joshua James as Matt’s friend Corey Bowery, and composer Volker Bertelmann, an Oscar winner, provides the score.
Harries told Manchester Evening News: “I love Manchester, I played a Mancunian in a TV series, two of my best friends are from Manchester. I think that the city is so welcoming and warm. As a Welshman, in the north of England there’s a kindredness between us. It was a real pleasure.”
Greater Manchester Locations
Stockport Plaza, a Grade II-listed building in Stockport town centre, was used to film scenes outside a glitzy movie premiere. Opening in 1932, it still uses its original organ. The venue has appeared in Life on Mars and Peaky Blinders. In Clayface, it becomes a Gotham City theatre hosting the premiere of fictional movie The Light Between.
Castlefield, near Duke Street, was transformed into Gotham City. Matt moves there after running out of money. Extras dressed as homeless camp members live in tents and push shopping trollies. Graffiti covers the walls, with posters calling to take down Gotham Police. An easter egg shows ‘The Jokers’ graffitied on a wall. Harries and Ackie filmed in Castlefield, which also featured Gotham police cars and an Evidence Response Unit vehicle.
Liverpool Locations
Most of Clayface was filmed in Liverpool, similar to 2022’s The Batman. An area outside Liverpool Crown Court became a Gotham hospital, seen throughout the film as Matt needs work performed. Litter and graffiti are visible, showing Gotham’s grime.
The Philharmonic Hall on Hope Street was turned into the Vesuvius nightclub, with a neon sign. It features in a key scene in the final act. The Cunard Building became Pinkney Tower, named after Gotham architect Cyrus Pinkney from Batman: Arkham Origins. Other locations include Seacombe Ferry Terminal, The World Museum, Water Street, and New Brighton.
Bertelmann said: “My score was much more dependent on the plot rather than the locations. Sometimes a region, an area or a city, gives you inspiration. In this case I felt it was much more about the story of someone who has a tragic experience and gets soaked into darkness.” He added: “My focus was to give the music more emotional complexity, this is a case where genre is driving the film.”
James noted: “I love Manchester, Manchester is a great city. I’ve worked in the theatre, I did a BBC show called Life there a few years ago. Manchester is an incredible city.” Clayface is out in cinemas now.
