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Melted Expectations: Here are the Biggest 4 Complaints Audiences Have About DCU’s ‘Clayface’

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DC Studios is taking a big swing with ‘Clayface’. The R-rated body horror film is the studio’s first foray into the genre, and it fits the DCU’s goal of telling stories in very different tones. It opens in theaters on October 23, and the conversation around it is getting louder by the day.

The early buzz started on a high note. After the October 13 premiere, the first social reactions called it brutal, hard-R body horror, and a few critics compared it to ‘The Fly’ and ‘Darkman’. The film then debuted on Letterboxd with a 3.7 average out of 5, a healthy start for a horror movie.

Not everyone is feeling it, though. One fan post on X has been making the rounds with a list of complaints: Clayface’s true form reportedly appears for only about 60 seconds, there’s no mention of Batman or Bruce Wayne, and the CGI isn’t good. The post also says the film lacks the charm of ‘The Fly’ and ‘The Substance’, and it calls ‘Man of Tomorrow’ the last hope for the DCU.

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The screen-time claim traces back to leaked spoilers rather than anything official. One leak says the comic-accurate Clayface gets about 60 seconds, with the film ending as the monstrous Matt Hagen retreats into Gotham’s sewers. A review from ComicBookMovie.com is even harsher, saying the 10 or 15 seconds of classic Clayface aren’t worth the wait.

The Batman point is better established. Spoiler reports say Batman never appears or gets referenced, and director James Watkins reportedly confirmed in an interview that there won’t be a cameo. That makes the film a standalone story, though some fans see a missed opportunity in the DCU’s first visit to Gotham City.

The CGI criticism is also surfacing in reviews. The same review says the shapeshifting scenes are lacking because of the limited budget, and one leak compared the face-swap effects to the Chameleon’s final scene in ‘Kraven the Hunter’.

It would be unfair to call the reaction one-sided. Premiere audiences were enthusiastic, and the first Letterboxd review from the Los Angeles screening gave the film 4 out of 5 stars. Individual Letterboxd ratings have since ranged from glowing to lukewarm, which is typical for a score in the high 3s.

Critics are starting to weigh in as well. The first Rotten Tomatoes review, from ComicBookMovie.com’s Josh Wilding, is a rotten 2.5 out of 5 that compares the film to ‘Morbius’ while praising Tom Rhys Harries’ lead performance. The full critic review embargo lifts on October 21, so the real verdict is still being written.

The film carries a modest budget of around $40 million. Boxoffice Pro’s early tracking put its domestic opening between $23 million and $33 million, which would nearly recoup the cost. Another report from a box office forum says advance ticket sales are pacing well behind ‘Supergirl’, pointing to a possible opening below $20 million, though presales don’t always predict final results and the two films target different audiences.

‘Clayface’ is also the last DC movie before ‘Man of Tomorrow’ arrives next July, which explains why every complaint and every number is being read as a sign of the DCU’s health. A strong October could ease worries after ‘Supergirl’, while a soft one would put more pressure on what comes next.

For now, the film sits in an interesting spot, with passionate fans on both sides and the reviews still to come. The next few days should show whether the 3.7 holds up or the criticism sticks.

What matters most to you in DC Studios’ ‘Clayface’?

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