The first reactions to DCU's Clayface are here and they are shocking

It's no secret that the third movie in the DC Universe will be its most unique project yet. The studio could've followed the "conventional" path and made Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman the first three heroes to have a theatrical adventure. Instead, the spotlight will go to Clayface—an R-rated body-horror film that raised some eyebrows when it was first announced.

Joker (2019) proved that films centered around Batman villains could work, yet Matt Hagen isn't one of the first characters that would jump to mind for such an opportunity. Despite this, the DCU took a risk with its upcoming movie, and it looks like it may pay off big time. Not only do box-office projections for Clayface suggest the movie could be off to a big opening weekend, but the film is already earning critical acclaim.

First reactions to Clayface are overwhelmingly postitive

2026 has been a big year for horror movies, with unlikely projects like Backrooms and Obsession taking the world by storm. Fortunately, it seems the streak is far from over. While the full Clayface review embargo won't lift until Oct. 21, 2026, the first social media reactions are already here, and they have nothing but praise for the upcoming DCU project.

Brandon Davis, host of the Brandon Davis Show, says Clayface is dark, gruesome, and creative. One thing most previews agree on is that Tom Rhys Harries delivers a fantastic performance as Matt Hagen, and the same holds here. Furthermore, in a follow-up Tweet, Davis stated that this is what Sony's Spider-Man movies wanted to be (even if they failed to do so). Additionally, he also teased that Clayface will be a true villain by the end.

Collider editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub says Clayface makes the most of its R-rating by showcasing "brutal" scenes that truly "freaked out" audiences at his screening. Furthermore, he also revealed that you don't need to watch the other DCU projects released to date to understand Matt Hagen's story, which was to be expected, especially since the DCU is still in its early days and there's not a lot of pre-established lore to pull from.

ComicBook.com host Chris Killian mentioned in his preview that audiences shouldn't go into Clayface just because of the character's connection to Batman in the source material. While it is not a direct confirmation that the Caped Crusader won't have a cameo in the film, it's all but confirmed that he won't have a major role in it (which was to be expected). Despite that, Killian stated that Clayface is an "incredible" project that truly highlights Matt Hagen's tragic backstory.

Social media influencer Conor states that Clayface doesn't try to make Matt Hagen an anti-hero, and there isn't another, more evil Clayface who acts as the main antagonist. Instead, this is all about Matt's descent into madness, which also means there aren't references to other corners of the DCU. It's a self-contained story that doesn't shy away from diving into dark and terrifying territory.

Of course, not every single preview is overwhelmingly positive. The Movie Podcast host Shahbaz shared that the plot of Clayface has some "bizarre" choices that don't always stick the landing. But despite the fact that not every element in the movie "works," there are still many positives to take away from it.

The overall consensus for Clayface is extremely positive, with early audiences highlighting the grotesque body-horror sequences, Tom Rhys Harries' standout performance, and a main character who isn't simply misunderstood or an anti-hero. Instead, we're about to witness the birth of a true, genuine villain who could someday go against the likes of the Caped Crusader himself.

While we still have to wait a little longer for the full reviews, Clayface is already off to a great start, and in a little over a week, we'll finally be able to watch the film for ourselves.

Clayface will be released on Oct. 23, 2026.

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