Dc’s ‘Clayface’ Delivers a Grotesque, Gripping Horror Origin

WHO:

Deadline - The film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a rising actor who becomes the Batman villain Clayface.

Reddit Movies - The cast includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik, and Nancy Carroll.

The Times - Rob Brydon appears in a cameo as a talk-show host.

Deadline - James Watkins directed the film; Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini wrote it.

Collider - James Gunn’s DCU produced a horror-focused story about a Batman villain.

WHAT:

Collider - Reviews describe *Clayface* as an examination of Batman’s villain that is both horrifying and “vapid.”

Variety - The article says the DC Universe brand has not appeared to resonate beyond its most devoted fans.

Coming Soon - The article says early reviews compare *Clayface* to the two-part “Feat of Clay” episodes of *Batman: The Animated Series*.

Reddit Movies - The Telegraph said viewers could leave *Clayface* without realizing it was a franchise movie, apart from occasional references to Gotham City, and praised its creators’ largely unhindered approach.

Reddit Movies - Ryan Gaur of DiscussingFilm said *Clayface* demonstrates the range of comic-book stories beyond big crossover spectacles.

TechRadar - Tom Power said the film’s underbaked subplots, underused shapeshifting gags, and reluctance to fully embrace horror keep it from greatness.

Reddit Movies - The South China Morning Post noted references to Brian Yuzna’s *Society* (1989) and Troma’s *The Toxic Avenger* (1984).

Reddit Movies - The Guardian criticized the film for using an all-non-American cast attempting American accents, specifically saying Eddie Marsan “loses that game.”

Coming Soon - Reviews compared Tom Rhys Harries’s performance in *Clayface* to Demi Moore’s performance in *The Substance*.

Variety - The film is the DC Universe’s third movie, following *Superman* and *Supergirl*.

The Independent - The review rated *Clayface* 3/5, describing it as a “great body-horror movie but a terrible DC Comics film.”

GamesRadar - Bradley Russell rated the film 3/5 and said it struggles to balance its superhero and horror elements.

Dread Central - Matt Konopka rated the film 3/5, calling it a “muddy mixed bag” of body horror and tonal inconsistencies.

Lifestyle Asia - Pilar Gonzalez said the film’s turn toward melodrama felt unearned and left its story of identity and desperation lacking.

Fresh Fiction - Courtney Howard gave the film a C, calling it one of the year’s most perplexing pictures.

MovieWeb - Molly Freeman rated the film 2.5/5 and said it has little connective tissue to the wider DC Universe beyond Gotham and its corrupt police and judicial system.

Collider - *Clayface* is the DC Universe’s first R-rated horror movie.

Coming Soon - The film is described as the best theatrically released installment of the DC Universe so far.

NY Post - The review describes the film as a “delightfully disgusting” movie that is gross “in a fun way.”

Rolling Stone TV Movies - The review compares watching *Clayface* to eating Play-Doh.

Coming Soon - Early reviews compare *Clayface* to Sam Raimi’s 1990 film *Darkman*, about a disfigured scientist seeking revenge.

Screen Rant - The film’s official Rotten Tomatoes score debuted as a new DC record; the article does not give the score.

Variety - *Clayface* is the third movie in the DC Universe.

DiscussingFilm - The film is a lean, focused character piece with gruesome action and was made without the lore-establishing responsibilities assigned to other DCU projects.

TechRadar - The story explores the artificiality of fame.

Screen Rant - The film received a 7/10 from Graeme Guttmann.

AwardsRadar - Joey Magidson rated it 3/4 and said it falls short of *The Fly* and *The Substance*.

DiscussingFilm - Ryan Gaur rated it 4/5.

IndieWire - Kate Erbland gave it a C+.

SlashFilm - Chris Evangelista rated it 5.5/10.

NBP - Giovanni Lago rated it 5/10.

Collider - *Clayface* is the DC Universe’s first R-rated horror movie.

Coming Soon - Reviews compare *Clayface* to Sam Raimi’s 1990 film *Darkman*, about a disfigured scientist who seeks revenge.

Moviefone - Clayface originated in the Batman comics in 1940 as Basil Karlo, an actor.

Reddit Movies - The Telegraph rated *Clayface* 4/5, and The AU Review also rated it 4/5.

Reddit Movies - TechRadar rated the film 3.5/5; Metro and The Times each rated it 3/5.

Reddit Movies - The Hollywood Reporter said the film’s grimy visuals and pulpy dialogue give it psychological depth and emotional resonance comparable to the work of David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi.

Reddit Movies - Slant Magazine described Gotham as a city where corruption permeates civic life and called the film a compelling standalone horror-thriller and an effective setup for a Batman update.

Reddit Movies - The South China Morning Post cited an unexpected dance sequence in Markos’ club, intercut with shape-shifting.

Reddit Movies - The Guardian criticized the film’s lighting and production, said its references to AI, unreality, and method acting had been reduced, and faulted the undefined rules governing Clayface’s abilities.

Reddit Movies - The Playlist said the film explores society’s fixation on appearances but does not find meaningful ideas beneath its imagery.

Reddit Movies - The TV Cave praised the film’s psychological elements and monster-movie influences, while noting that its pacing holds it back.

Reddit Movies - The film’s Gotham City Academy Award-nominated movies are mentioned as a point of comparison in Flickering Myth’s review.

Screen Rant - The film is a horror-revenge origin story featuring a charismatic central performance and a “goopy” tone.

Coming Soon - The film prioritizes character drama and disturbing body horror over action and spectacle; the review calls it one of DC’s best films.

Deadline - The story follows Matt Hagen from rising actor to disfigured man, then through a treatment that restores his appearance as his grip on reality deteriorates.

Reddit Movies - A local crime boss’s actions leave Hagen horribly disfigured. He seeks a cutting-edge treatment that restores his appearance, after which he descends into destructive revenge.

Variety - The review says the film can be watched without knowledge of wider DC franchise storylines.

TechRadar - The film is described as a creative tonal departure within James Gunn’s DC Universe.

Reddit Movies - Reviews offered mixed assessments: IGN rated it 7/10; The Guardian rated it 2/5; RogerEbert rated it 1.5/4; and USA Today rated it 2/4.

Reddit Movies - Variety praised the practical effects and cited an airplane sequence involving fused eyelids, nail scissors, and turbulence.

Reddit Movies - The Independent described it as a strong body-horror film but a weak DC Comics film; Empire praised Harries’s lead performance and the body horror.

Reddit Movies - Screen Rant rated the film 7/10 and said Matt’s relationship with Caitlyn anchors the story.

Reddit Movies - CBR rated it 6/10 and criticized its final scene; ScreenCrush also rated it 6/10, praising its gross-out horror while saying its character study lacks depth.

WHERE:

Deadline - The story is set in Gotham City.

Reddit Movies - Matt Hagen’s rise begins in Gotham; the story also features a club called Vesuvius.

WHEN:

Moviefone - *Clayface* is scheduled to open in theaters on October 23.

WHY:

Reddit Movies - Hagen pursues treatment after being disfigured and turns to revenge following its effects on his reality.

HOW:

Coming Soon - An article about the film’s post-credits scene says Batman does not appear.

Screen Rant - Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, and James Watkins discussed how the film’s production deviated from the original script and comics.

Variety - The review said *Clayface* requires no franchise homework and can be watched without familiarity with the wider DC Universe.

NBP - Matt’s sleep-cycle evaluation by Caitlyn briefly becomes a voyeuristic scene described as both terrifying and inadvertently erotic.

TechRadar - The film puts a modern-day spin on “Feat of Clay,” a two-part *Batman: The Animated Series* story.

Reddit Movies - The film uses practical makeup and prosthetics to depict Hagen’s bodily transformations; reviews also describe some visual-effects use.

Reddit Movies - The treatment restores Hagen’s appearance but affects his grip on reality.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 17:07 UTC)

Clayface*, the DC Universe’s first R-rated horror movie, tells the story of a rising actor transformed into Batman villain Matt Hagen. After a local crime boss leaves him disfigured, Hagen undergoes an experimental treatment that restores his appearance, but his grip on reality deteriorates and he turns to revenge. Tom Rhys Harries stars, with Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik and Nancy Carroll in the cast; Rob Brydon makes a cameo. James Watkins directed, from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Critics are divided: some praise Harries, the practical effects and the film’s gruesome body horror, while others fault its pacing, subplots and balance between horror and superhero storytelling. Several reviews say it works as a standalone character piece, with little need to know the wider DC Universe. Others find its ideas about fame, identity and appearances underdeveloped.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 16:12 UTC)

Clayface* is the DC Universe’s first R-rated horror film, following Matt Hagen, a rising actor in Gotham City who becomes Batman villain Clayface. Tom Rhys Harries stars as Hagen, whose disfigurement leads him to a treatment that restores his appearance as his grip on reality deteriorates. James Watkins directed, with Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini writing; the cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan. Reviews are sharply divided. Some praise the film as a gruesome, focused standalone story that explores body horror, fame and identity without relying on wider DC lore. Others say it struggles to balance horror and superhero elements, with underdeveloped subplots and uneven pacing. Several reviewers likened its body horror to *The Substance* or *Darkman*, while others found its ideas less fully realized. It is the DC Universe’s third movie, after *Superman* and *Supergirl*.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 13:16 UTC)

The DC Universe’s third movie, *Clayface*, brings body horror to Gotham in its first R-rated horror installment. Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen, a rising actor whose disfigurement leads him to an experimental treatment that restores his appearance but erodes his grip on reality, setting him on a path of revenge. James Watkins directed, from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik and Nancy Carroll in the cast. Rob Brydon makes a cameo as a talk-show host. Practical makeup and prosthetics create Hagen’s gruesome transformations, while the story focuses on character drama and the artificiality of fame. Reviews are divided: some praise Harries and the disturbing effects, while others say the film struggles to balance horror with superhero elements. Critics also compare it to *The Substance* and *Darkman*. *Clayface* opens in theaters on October 23.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 07:23 UTC)

Clayface*, the DC Universe’s third movie, brings a horror-focused origin story to Gotham City. Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, a rising actor who is horribly disfigured, undergoes an experimental treatment that restores his appearance, and then loses his grip on reality as he turns toward revenge. The film is the franchise’s first R-rated horror movie and can be watched without knowing the wider DC storyline. James Watkins directed, with a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan and David Dencik, with Rob Brydon in a cameo. Reviews are sharply divided: some praise the practical effects, Harries’s performance and gruesome body horror, while others say the film struggles to balance horror with superhero elements and its melodrama lacks depth. *Clayface* is scheduled to open in theaters on October 23.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 02:09 UTC)

Clayface*, the DC Universe’s first R-rated horror film, is a gruesome origin story about a rising actor whose pursuit of fame turns into revenge. Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, who is disfigured in Gotham City and undergoes treatment that restores his appearance while eroding his grip on reality. The story blends character drama, body horror and practical makeup effects, with a focus on the artificiality of fame rather than superhero spectacle. James Watkins directed, with a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik and Nancy Carroll, with Rob Brydon appearing as a talk-show host. Early reactions are mixed: some critics praise Harries, the effects and the film’s psychological depth, while others fault its pacing, production or underdeveloped ideas. Several reviews compare its horror style to Sam Raimi’s *Darkman*. *Clayface* opens in theaters on October 23.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 23:11 UTC)

Clayface*, the third film in James Gunn’s DC Universe, is a horror-focused origin story scheduled to open in theaters on October 23. Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, a rising Gotham actor whose disfigurement leads him to a treatment that restores his appearance but erodes his grip on reality, setting him on a path of revenge. James Watkins directed, with Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini writing; Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik and Nancy Carroll also star, while Rob Brydon makes a cameo. The film is the DCU’s first R-rated horror movie, leaning on practical makeup, disturbing body horror and character drama rather than franchise setup. Reviews are mixed: some praise Harries, the effects and psychological depth, while others fault the pacing, production and thin ideas. Critics also differ on how successfully it blends Batman lore with a standalone thriller.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 22:15 UTC)

“Clayface,” the first R-rated horror film in James Gunn’s DC Universe, is a body-horror revenge story set in Gotham City. Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen, a rising actor who is disfigured by a crime boss and seeks an experimental treatment to restore his appearance. But as his body transforms, Hagen’s grip on reality deteriorates, setting him on a destructive path. James Watkins directed, with a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. The cast includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik and Nancy Carroll, with Rob Brydon appearing as a talk-show host. Practical makeup and prosthetics help bring Hagen’s transformations to life, while the film emphasizes character drama and disturbing horror over action. Reviews are mixed, praising Harries and the body horror while criticizing the pacing, lighting and story’s depth. “Clayface” opens in theaters on October 23.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 21:15 UTC)

Clayface*, a horror-focused film in James Gunn’s DC Universe, follows rising Gotham actor Matt Hagen as he transforms into the Batman villain. After a crime boss leaves him disfigured, Hagen undergoes a treatment that restores his appearance but undermines his grip on reality, driving him toward revenge. Tom Rhys Harries stars, with Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik and Nancy Carroll in the cast; Rob Brydon makes a cameo as a talk-show host. James Watkins directed, from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. The film leans on character drama, disturbing body horror and practical makeup effects rather than action spectacle. Reviews are mixed: some praise Harries, the practical effects and psychological horror, while others fault the pacing, lighting and unclear rules for Clayface’s powers. It is scheduled to open in theaters on October 23.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 20:11 UTC)

A new DC horror film tells the origin story of Batman villain Clayface, following rising Gotham actor Matt Hagen from a brutal disfigurement to a destructive pursuit of revenge. Tom Rhys Harries stars as Hagen, who undergoes an experimental treatment that restores his appearance but steadily loosens his grip on reality. James Watkins directed the film, written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik and Nancy Carroll among the cast. Rob Brydon appears briefly as a talk-show host. Rather than focus on action or spectacle, the story leans into character drama and disturbing body horror, using practical makeup and prosthetics for Hagen’s transformations. Reviews are mixed: some praise Harries’s performance, the effects and the horror, while others criticize the character study or finale. The story stands alone from wider DC storylines.