The first reactions to DC Studios‘ much-talked about R-rated body horror film Clayface have hit social media and the early consensus seems to be genre fans will be very happy.
Clayface doesn’t hit theaters until Oct. 23, and the critcs’ review embargo isn’t until Oct. 21, but DC held a number of screenings and a premiere on Tuesday night, and allowed brief social media reactions to the film.
Directed by Eden Lake and Speak No Evil filmmaker James Watkins, and co-written by Hossein Amini (Drive, 47 Ronin) and horror maestro Mike Flanagan (Carrie, Doctor Sleep, The Exorcist: Martyrs), Clayface tells the origin story of one of Gotham City’s most notorious villains. The synopsis for the film reads: “Matt Hagen’s meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss’s actions leave him horribly disfigured. Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self… but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge.”
Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen/Clayface. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan.
James Gunn and The Batman director Matt Reeves are among the producers of Clayface.
The film is the third feature entry into Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, following Superman (2025) and Supergirl (2026). While Superman was a critical and commercial hit, earning $619 million, Supergirl misfired this summer, making just $126 million after middling reviews. Clayface, however, has a much more modest budget of $40 million, so should be moneymaker for DC.
Below is the early social media reaction to Clayface.
Original Article on Hollywood Reporter