The first reactions have landed for Clayface, and it seems the new DCU horror is winning over early viewers. Directed by James Watkins, the movie tells the origin story of the iconic Batman villain, played here by Tom Rhys Harries.
With a script from Mike Flanagan, it seems the movie does not hold back on the body horror. Critics have been calling it "disgusting", "brutal", and "unsettling". Rhys Harries has also landed a lot of praise, while others have pointed out that the movie doesn't require any prior DC knowledge.
Collider's Steven Weintraub wrote: "Clayface was fantastic. An awesome addition to the DCU that doesn't require any knowledge of DC to enjoy. It's a hard R and loaded with brutal scenes that really surprised me. Audience freaked out a few times during my screening to what was being depicted on screen. "
Presenter Brandon Davis was also a fan, calling out director James Watkins "unsettling Gotham." He added: "Tom Rhys Harries is a star, literally in the movie and for his performance. Dude kills it. Well done by all."
"Clayface is one of the best horrors of the year," writes journalist Chalice Williams. "Was not expecting it to perfectly mesh horror and romance! Warner Bros & DC cooked with this & Mike Flanagan does not miss with his scripts."
"Dark, violent, with little levity to offset the nastiness, this is an exciting addition to Gunn’s DCU," writes film critic Peter Gray, who calls out how "brutal" the movie is.
Phase Hero host Jenna Anderson writes: "Clayface completely blew me away. It’s disgusting, inventive, and astonishingly funny and earnest. It slots into the DCU so effortlessly. You owe it to yourself to see it in a theater filled with other people’s reactions."
Check out some more reactions below.
CLAYFACE is the proof of concept of DC Studios: a movie that works on its own first, all shared universe considerations secondary. That it’s also a well-written, beautifully acted body horror/mad science/antihero monster movie à la THE FLY and DARKMAN is the bloody cherry on top. https://t.co/e5j6O4wa8HOctober 14, 2026
Clayface is a thriller that blends a propulsive Gotham crime story with shockingly gruesome body horror. This movie sets a new standard for the comic book villain movie and will win over DC and horror fans alike. @ClayfaceMovieDC @dcofficial #clayfacemovie https://t.co/oj2Jb5wPfOOctober 14, 2026
I love Clayface from the Batman comics, but James Watkins' movie does a good job of separating itself as a horror movie that doesn't require knowing anything beforehand. At its best, it reminded me of Sam Raimi's Darkman and Cronenberg's The Fly. Review and interview next week!October 14, 2026
'CLAYFACE' is a shockingly gruesome horror that holds NOTHING back. It goes all the way with it’s grotesque imagery. Surprisingly, it’s also funny. The film goes from darkly depressing to wacky, colourful, and absurd. A welcome change of tone that proves the DCU can do it all. https://t.co/xxtkodKwTNOctober 14, 2026
Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more on DCU Chapter One, check out our breakdown of all the upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.
