Clayface’s Airplane Scissor Moment Has People Talking, ‘Wait to Deal With This Until You Land, Dude!’

The first trailer for DC Studios’ Clayface has fans talking for plenty of reasons, but one scene has sparked debate.

After the trailer dropped, entertainment commentator Grace Randolph took to X, writing, “You can’t take cuticle scissors on a plane, totally takes me out of the movie. Also, he can still see out of one eye – wait to deal with this until you land, dude!”

The post quickly gained attention, but it wasn’t long before a Community Note appeared, pointing out that the TSA allows scissors in carry-on luggage as long as the blades are less than four inches from the pivot point. Since cuticle scissors typically fall within that limit, many users were quick to challenge Randolph’s claim.

Rather than settling the debate, the Community Note prompted even more reactions, with viewers discussing everything from TSA regulations to whether Matt Hagen’s response was believable under the circumstances.

“You wouldn’t be panicking?”

Many poked fun at Randolph’s claim, pointing out that TSA guidelines allow travel-sized scissors in carry-on luggage. Others joked that Randolph had officially lost her “TSA credentials,” while one person quipped, “Good news, cuticle scissors are allowed on planes now!”

Since Clayface is a body horror film about a man transforming into living clay, some viewers questioned why airport security rules became such a major point of discussion.

“You know this movie is about a man who is turning into literal clay, right?” one user replied, while another joked, “In Gotham airport, you can do anything.”

Not everyone dismissed Randolph’s take, though. Some viewers admitted they had briefly wondered about the scissors themselves, while others questioned why Matt Hagen didn’t just keep his sunglasses on or wait until the plane landed before trying to deal with his changing appearance.

Many fans came to the character’s defense, arguing that the scene captures the panic of someone experiencing a terrifying transformation for the first time. “It’s clearly the first time it’s happening and rapidly getting worse… you wouldn’t be panicking?” one viewer wrote. Another added, “How would you react if your face suddenly started mutating? No matter where you are, you would panic.”

The intense reaction to the airplane sequence may not come as much of a surprise to director James Watkins. During a behind-the-scenes breakdown of the trailer, he explained that the team designed the moment to tap into some of people’s most instinctive fears.

While the body horror is unsettling on its own, Watkins noted that the sequence becomes especially nerve-racking because Matt Hagen brings scissors dangerously close to his eye while turbulence throws the situation into chaos.

Creating that tension also required a careful balance behind the camera. Watkins revealed that the production used several different versions of the scissors throughout filming, including real, rubber, and modified props, to safely achieve the close-up shots. Looking around the monitor during filming, he recalled hearing crew members audibly react as the scene played out, underscoring just how effective the sequence was even before the team added visual effects.

The suspense in the airplane sequence did not rely on CGI alone. According to Watkins and Harries, the team used practical effects throughout the scene to create a sense of realism that would carry through on screen.

Rather than relying on a complex motion simulator, the production team physically shook the airplane bathroom set during each take. Harries explained that the unpredictable movement made the performance more challenging because he never knew exactly how much the set would shift. That uncertainty brought added tension to Hagen’s experience.

(feature image: DC Comics)

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.