The first reactions to DC Studios’ Clayface have arrived, and the upcoming Batman villain film appears to be leaning fully into its horror roots.
Directed by James Watkins, Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor who suffers a devastating facial injury before undergoing an experimental treatment that transforms his body and ultimately turns him into the shape shifting character known as Clayface.
Early reactions following screenings have been largely positive, with viewers praising the film’s gruesome body horror, dark atmosphere and Harries’ performance in the lead role.
Collider’s Steven Weintraub called the film “fantastic” while noting that it delivers an R rated experience filled with brutal moments.
Clayface [DC Studios]
Brandon Davis described Clayface as “freakishly awesome,” praising Watkins’ unsettling version of Gotham and the creative ways the film uses Clayface’s abilities.
Several reactions have also compared the movie to classic body horror films such as The Fly and Sam Raimi’s Darkman, suggesting DC Studios has created something much closer to a traditional horror movie than a typical superhero release.
Harries has received particularly strong praise, with multiple early viewers pointing to Clayface as a potential breakout performance for the actor.
Naomi Ackie stars alongside Harries as Dr. Caitlyn Corr, the scientist whose experimental treatment plays a major role in Hagen’s transformation. The cast also includes Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan and David Dencik.
Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, Clayface [dc studios]
The screenplay was written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini from a story by Flanagan, while James Gunn, Peter Safran, Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris serve as producers.
Clayface also represents another major tonal shift for the developing DC Universe. Rather than treating every project as a traditional comic book blockbuster, DC Studios appears willing to use individual characters to explore completely different genres.
If the early reactions are any indication, Clayface may be one of the studio’s biggest swings yet.
Clayface arrives in theaters October 23, 2026.
