Clayface apparently doesn’t need Batman to work. Ahead of its Oct. 23 theatrical release, influencers and journalists are praising DC’s horror film, with one critic highlighting that viewers don’t need any prior knowledge to follow it. These early reactions offer a promising test of whether James Gunn’s DC Universe can support a standalone horror story, rather than just another chapter in a connected superhero saga.
Directed by James Watkins from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, the film centers on one of Batman’s villains without bringing along the Caped Crusader. Polygon’s Willa Rowe describes that premise as a tough sell, comparing it with Sony’s Spider-Man villain movies, which she characterizes as ranging from campy to unwatchable. The screening responses she cites suggest Clayface may avoid that trap, working both as a DCU entry and as a horror movie in its own right.
Lead actor Tom Rhys Harries draws particular praise. YouTuber Brandon Davis called the film “freakishly awesome,” singling out Harries’ performance. The AU Review’s Peter Gray also praised the actor, writing that he “brings equal boyish charm and quiet menace to the role.”
Critic Edward Douglas offers the most telling response for DC’s shared-universe strategy. He wrote that Clayface “does a good job of separating itself as a horror movie that doesn’t require knowing anything beforehand.” For a film built around a Batman antagonist, that’s a concrete strength: viewers apparently don’t need a mental map of DC continuity to follow the story.
Rowe acknowledges the tradeoff. Some fans value the DC Universe’s interconnections and may see that separation as a drawback, but she argues that independence appears to be the right choice for Clayface. Batman’s absence, initially a reason for skepticism, doesn’t seem to hurt the film for the people quoted.
The horror also appears to deliver some truly grotesque standout moments. Chris Killian wrote that the movie will “make you squirm, but what I loved most is it’s also a heartfelt throwback to a bygone era of classic gothic romance films.” His response points to more than gruesome effects, suggesting an emotional and romantic side alongside the discomfort.
These reactions have their limits, though. They’re initial screening responses, not a full critics’ consensus. Rowe describes the available reactions as glowing and overwhelmingly positive, with no negative responses apparent at the time of writing. That’s encouraging, but it doesn’t establish how the broader critical reception will settle.
Batman’s place in Gunn’s DCU is a separate question, and his absence has been a recurring topic since Gunn took over DC Studios. Robert Pattinson is set to return as Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part 2, but that film isn’t considered canon to this DC Universe. According to Rowe’s report, its production is also currently halted.
Gunn plans to introduce his version of Batman on the big screen in The Brave and the Bold, which is currently in early development. Rowe therefore suggests the next Batman will likely still be years away. The character could appear in another project first, but no such project is identified. She hopes Batman’s eventual arrival will bring a confrontation with Clayface.
For now, Clayface has the screen to itself. It opens in movie theaters on Oct. 23.
