Clayface (2026) Movie Review - DC's Grotesque Body-Horror Movie Delivers a Monstrous Good Time

Look fear in the face.

Clayface is a 2026 psychological body horror film directed by James Watkins, written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, produced by DC Studios, 6th & Idaho, Troll Court Entertainment, and The Safran Company, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is based off of various Batman comics by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff. This is the sixth overall project and third film in the DC Universe. It was preceded by Creature Commandos, Supergirl, and Lanterns, and will be followed by Man of Tomorrow and The Brave and the Bold.

"The people I trusted betrayed me." - Matt Hagen

Plot

Movie star Matt Hagen is on top of the world...until a messy situation causes a mob boss to come after him and disfigure his face. Having now lost everything, Matt turns to desperate measures to get his life back, unafraid of the monstrous effect it may have on him.

The Sweet

Initially, I was hesitant about a Clayface movie being the third film in the DCU. That feels strange to kick off with Superman and Supergirl and then have your third film be a B-tier Batman villain solo movie. But anything with Mike Flanagan's name attached to it is of interest to me, and him writing a DC movie got me excited. Once the first trailer dropped, I was all in, and this quickly became one of my most anticipated movies of the year.

And I am happy to report that this is probably my favorite movie or show in the DC Universe so far. Sure, I haven't truly loved any projects from this universe yet, but Clayface is a blast.

The best thing about this movie is that it's a horror movie. This is not a superhero movie. It doesn't lean on comic book tropes or recognizable names. There is not a single mention of Batman in here. We don't get some secret cameo from Commissioner Gordon or the Joker or something like that. This is a psychological body horror film that is squeamish, nasty, and visceral, which is something different. It's not some big budget superhero movie that is trying to get huge box office numbers and be some smash hit. It's an R-rated, $40 million horror film that focuses heavily on the grossness of the Clayface character.

Speaking of which, that's what everyone is here for! This is a body horror movie, and it leans into that. Some people have called it The Substance for guys - that's an overstatement. It's not as nasty or intelligent as The Substance, but it does have some moments that are sure to make you squirm. Everyone has talked about the airplane sequence where he has to cut his eyelids with a pair of scissors, but just watching Matt Hagen's face distort and droop in all of the places that it shouldn't is just so disgusting. And I loved every second.

I also think the movie isn't afraid to be the rise of a villain. This isn't the "misunderstood villain who is really an anti-hero" arc. Matt Hagen starts off as someone you like, but you see how a series of bad situations and desperate choices leads to him becoming this monster, both physically and morally. It isn't just the body morphing that makes him turn bad - he makes terrible choices and does terrible things to the point where he feels irredeemable by the end. The movie is, in a way, a revenge film, and while the revenge is satisfying, the movie never treats it as so. You are meant to see Matt's revenge as a further example of his descent into this horrible, villainous creature, even if he is murdering people who you hate.

Tom Rhys Harries - man, this guy is going to be a star. From the minute he appears on screen, you like him. He's got this infectious charm to him that just makes it all the more gut-wrenching when you know where this movie is inevitably going. He is able to play this charismatic guy who you would believe as a big Hollywood star while also being able to play this psychotic side that is descending into madness. There are times where he's able to pull off both at the same time, and it's just incredible to see. He is really the driving force of the film. He adds so much vulnerability, menace, and likability to every scene that he's in, and it's a really interesting mixture that gives Matt Hagen more texture and nuance.

This movie also does not beat around the bush. For comparison, one of my major disappointments with Lanterns was the lack of Green Lantern we got in that show. There was not a lot of action. John Stewart didn't even wear the suit in the end. Clayface holds off on its final, comic-accurate monster design until the final moments, but the movie delivers on the promise of the premise. Once Matt Hagen understands his powers, he uses them A LOT. There's a sequence in the third act that takes place in a nightclub where we see Matt shapeshift a bunch, and it's so much fun. It is one of the most entertaining shapeshifting scenes I have ever watched. The movie knows we came to watch a body horror movie about a guy who can manipulate his skin however he wants, and it delivers on that. If you're waiting for a lot of big mud monster action, we don't get that, but I think the movie works better in its current form. The big, monstrous Clayface can be saved for later.

This is also the type of stuff I want DC to do more. Get Supergirl out of here. Give me more unique, niche projects like this. Obviously, I still think we should get the four-quadrant superhero blockbusters, because done well, that would be great. But to separate yourself from the MCU, DC needs to focus on these smaller, more creator-driven projects. Clayface is an R-rated body horror movie that feels self-contained, has great characters, and delivers a truly entertaining and nasty good time. I left this movie very excited to see Matt Hagen in future projects - not because there was some major cameo from Batman or some tease at something coming soon, but because the Clayface character was just so cool and so freaky that I want to see him again.

The Sour

While there is good with getting straight to the point in your movie, it does feel like Clayface rushes through its plot points a bit too quickly from time to time. Matt Hagen's face gets cut up in the first ten minutes of the film, which I think was a good choice because we want to get to the Clayface part of things, but I think his descent to full-on villainy could've been a bit more drawn out. He starts off slightly horrified at what he's doing...and then that just seems to disappear pretty quickly. Without any explanation. I'm a bit forgiving of it because they've established him as desperate and willing to cut corners, but I don't think his turn to full-on serial killer is as earned as I'd like it to be.

I also think there were times where the movie actually shied away from gore or grotesqueness when I would've liked to see it. Now, there are plenty of awesome deaths and moments that will make you squirm, but there's also a lot of off-screen kills that are teased or the aftermath is shown and it feels a little disappointing that we didn't get to see it. Now, I get it - this is a $40 million movie, and some effects are expensive. BUT Terrifier 2 had a budget of $250,000 and has some of the gnarliest, most drawn-out gore effects ever. I just think there were moments that I would've liked to see actually happen rather than just watch a shadow on a wall or see the aftermath.

The love story here was also a bit iffy for me. Clayface tries to have this sort-of Gothic romance of the monster falling in love with a woman who is kind to him...but it doesn't entirely work. I actually think it works best in the third act when everything converges, but I don't fully buy into Matt having a relationship with Caitlyn. They don't really have romantic chemistry or romantic interactions - their relationship feels much more professional and friendly rather than some deep, intense connection, and because of that, I found it very difficult to buy into their romance. I love Mike Flanagan, but sometimes his dialogue is not the best, and I thought that reared it's ugly head most when we were focused on this romance.

Clayface is tons of fun, but it's not the deepest or most thoughtful movie ever. This definitely isn't Venom or Morbius (so that one review that's been getting all of the attention because it was posted early was wrong), but it's not really Joker either. It's primary goal isn't to make some grand statement about identity and losing yourself in the process of revenge - it is trying to be a fun, nasty movie that will make your stomach churn. It's trying to give us a tragic, terrifying version of a classic comic book villain, and it does that successfully. It isn't reinventing comic book movies. It isn't a masterpiece. But it's a fun movie that feels memorable and unique in an overcrowded genre that's struggled in the 2020s.

Final Thoughts and Score

Clayface is an absolute blast. Is it the best movie ever? No. Did I get what I wanted? Yes. Do I want DC to do more stuff like this? Absolutely.

I am going Savory here. Age range is 17+.

SWEET N' SOUR SCALE

Sweet (Great) Savory (Good)

Sour (Bad) Moldy (Terrible)

"Clayface"

Fun Factor: 9/10

Acting: 8/10

Story: 6.5/10

Characters: 7.5/10

Quality: 7.5/10

Directed by James Watkins

Rated R for strong bloody violence, frightening themes and images, nudity, language, thematic elements

Released on October 23, 2026

1 hour and 48 minutes

Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen / Clayface

Naomi Ackie as Caitlyn Corr

Max Minghella as John Borrelli

David Dencik as Markos Szabo

Joana Ribeiro as Mia Torrez

Joshua James as Corey Bowery

Eddie Marsan as Frank Fitzpatrick

Nancy Carroll as Hildie Love

Jake Curran as Patches

Wil Coban as Bones

Corey Johnson as Sal