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‘Clayface’ First Reactions Land: Is DC’s Gory Body Horror Gamble Its Boldest Swing Yet?

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DC Studios has never been shy about swinging big, but a body horror movie built around a Batman villain is a different kind of risk. That is why the first reactions to ‘Clayface‘ feel like a referendum on where the DCU is headed next.

The story follows Matt Hagen, a rising actor whose face is disfigured by a crime boss. Desperate to recover what he lost, he turns to an experimental treatment that slowly turns him into a shape-shifting monster. James Watkins, the filmmaker behind ‘Eden Lake’ and ‘Speak No Evil’, directs from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini.

The film was originally slated for September 11 before moving to October 23. It also arrives with a lot riding on it, since ‘Supergirl’ received an underwhelming critical reception and the DCU’s momentum is under scrutiny.

After a premiere and a series of screenings on Tuesday night, brief social media reactions were allowed, and the early consensus is that genre fans will be very happy. Early viewers have called the movie disgusting, brutal and unsettling, with several saying it holds nothing back. One attendee at an early screening said the audience cheered, and others said the crowd reacted loudly to the more graphic scenes.

Many reactions stress that the film works on its own terms, with no knowledge of the comics required. One viewer called it a proof of concept for DC Studios, a movie that stands alone first and serves the shared universe second. Comparisons are flying too, from ‘The Fly’ and ‘Darkman’ to ‘The Substance’, ‘Joker’ and ‘Vanilla Sky’.

Harries comes up again and again in the early buzz, with viewers describing his performance as charismatic, chilling and genuinely moving. Several predict a breakout moment for the Welsh actor, who they say balances boyish charm with quiet menace. Naomi Ackie also earns praise, and some reactions credit the film for blending horror with romance and tragedy.

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The tone is less settled. Some viewers found the movie surprisingly funny, saying it swings from darkly depressing to colorful and absurd. Others described a grim thriller with very little levity to offset the nastiness.

Not every reaction is a rave. One viewer called the body horror and the lead performance genuinely excellent, but felt the story and some bizarre choices make the film an odd entry for a DCU still finding its identity.

There are also reasons to treat the early word with caution. This first wave came largely from fan-oriented outlets, and major trade critics have not weighed in yet. The official review embargo lifts on October 21, so the full critical picture is still a week away.

Boxoffice Pro’s early tracking projects a domestic opening of $23 million to $33 million against a reported budget of $40 million. For comparison, ‘Supergirl’ opened to $37.1 million domestically, while ‘Superman’ debuted with $125 million last year. A smaller price tag could give the horror film a clearer path to profit than most superhero releases.

The competition is real, though. ‘Street Fighter’ opens the weekend before, and ‘Wildwood’ and ‘Klara and the Sun’ open alongside ‘Clayface’. A strong run for the video game adaptation could even keep the DC film from opening at No. 1.

Horror has also been a bright spot at the 2026 box office, with ‘Obsession’, ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Resident Evil’ all becoming hits. ‘Clayface’ is the last DC movie until ‘Man of Tomorrow’ arrives next July, so strong word of mouth would give the studio some momentum heading into that release.

Will you be watching Clayface in theaters?

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