Hideo Kojima Praises 'Clayface' and Compares Film to 'The Fly'
The creator of Metal Gear praised James Watkins' film and compared its approach to horror and sci-fi classics, including The Fly and The Substance.
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Hideo Kojima published a review of Clayface, the new DC body horror film directed by James Watkins. In a post on X, the Metal Gear creator revealed that he was unfamiliar with the character before watching the film, but that he enjoyed the experience. "I wasn’t familiar with the character from DC, but I enjoyed the film," he wrote.
Kojima linked the film to the science fiction wave of the 1950s and 1960s, marked by stories of lonely men who transform into monsters after scientific experiments, accidents, or clinical treatments. Among the references cited are The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), The Fly (1958), and 4D Man (1959). When commenting on the facial deformities present in the plot, he also mentioned The Man Without a Face (1959), Another Man (1966), and The Skin I Live In (2011).
Watched “Clayface.” I wasn’t familiar with the character from DC, but I enjoyed the film. I’ve always loved the science fiction films of the 1950s and ’60s, particularly those about lonely men who gradually transform into something monstrous through scientific experiments, accidents, clinical trials, and the like. Richard Matheson’s novel “The Shrinking Man” (1956), and films such as “The Fly” (1958) and “4D Man” (1959). The facial disfigurement also reminded me of “Eyes Without a Face” (1959), “The Face of Another” (1966), and “The Skin I Live In” (2011). As a body horror film, “Clayface” will undoubtedly be compared to “The Fly” (1986) and “The Substance” (2024). But this is the story of a method actor who can become anyone through his performances, only to suffer a disfiguring facial injury and eventually gain the extraordinary ability to physically transform into anyone. Whether you see it as the story of a man who takes his revenge and descends into villainy, or as a tragedy, changes the very face of the film. While I was there, I also picked up a reprint of the original theatrical pamphlet for “The Man Who Stole the Sun.”
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) November 1, 2026
The director acknowledged that, due to its body horror approach, Clayface should be compared to The Fly (1986) and the recent The Substance (2024). Still, he highlighted a particularity of the story: “But this is the story of a method actor who can become anyone through his performances, only to suffer a disfiguring facial injury and eventually gain the extraordinary ability to physically transform into anyone.”
Upon concluding his analysis, Kojima observed that the interpretation of the protagonist's journey can change the audience's perception of the film. "Whether you see it as the story of a man who takes his revenge and descends into villainy, or as a tragedy, changes the very face of the film," he commented.
This is not the first time Kojima has shared his impressions of a DC production. A few months ago, he also published an analysis of Supergirl, stating that the film is closer to a coming-of-age story for the protagonist than a traditional superhero movie. On that occasion, he described the production as a story about "saving herself (Kara), who carries a trauma."
One of the most influential names in the gaming industry, Hideo Kojima is a Japanese designer, director, screenwriter, and producer. He created the Metal Gear franchise and founded Kojima Productions, the studio responsible for games such as Death Stranding.
