--- title: "Clayface: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/clayface/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/clayface" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 20 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Clayface (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 20 reviews: 10 positive, 6 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews lean favourable on Clayface, with praise clustering around its practical effects, grotesque transformations and commitment to body horror. Several critics find it entertaining as a self-contained horror film, without needing wider franchise connections. Tom Rhys Harries’s lead performance also draws repeated approval, including from reviewers who find the film underwhelming. The airplane and nightclub sequences attract particular attention as examples of the horror working well. There is much less agreement about the story’s emotional force. Supporters find empathy beneath the gore; others describe thin characters, shallow themes and predictable plotting. The spread is wide, from enthusiastic endorsements to outright disappointment. The Playlist argues that tonal confusion turns intended tragedy into unintended comedy, despite convincing effects. Polygon offers the sharpest rejection, finding neither a compelling character nor much fear. Even the bodily horror divides opinion: The AV Club admires the staging of transformations but finds them short on visceral impact. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. The critic calls the film a big bet that pays off, praising its body-horror thrills and emotional depth. He especially singles out the practical effects and a tense sequence aboard an airplane. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/clayface-review-dc-batman-1236736489/) ## Time Out — Helen O’Hara Rating 4/5. 19 October 2026. The review presents the film as a gory, ghoulish superhero movie with unusually effective body horror. It singles out the icky body horror as the film’s standout quality. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/clayface-review-2026) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2026. Lodge finds the film an enjoyable, self-contained horror romp that succeeds without relying on franchise connections. He especially praises its inspired practical effects and stomach-churning body-horror setpieces. [Read the review](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/reviews/clayface-review-41727/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 3/4. 21 October 2026. Cole finds the film a surprisingly sturdy, compelling horror-thriller and a brilliant setup for a Batman update. He praises its shifting, visibly artificial Gotham, which gives the city an atmosphere of active malevolence. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/clayface-review-tom-rhys-harries/) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating B-. 21 October 2026. Hassenger finds the film a decent, workmanlike monster B-movie rather than a major horror success. He praises its clever use of shadows and cuts to portray Clayface’s transformations, while faulting the body horror for lacking visceral impact. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/clayface-movie-review-2026) ## Empire — Sophie Butcher Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. The review finds the film shallow but entertaining, with its brutal body horror delivering despite limited thematic depth. It praises Tom Rhys Harries’s lead performance and James Watkins’s visceral practical effects and transformations. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/clayface-review/) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating C+. 21 October 2026. Erbland calls the film an ambitious misfire that confounds more than it compels. She praises its commitment to body horror and highlights the gruesome airplane sequence, while criticizing muddy effects and plotting. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/clayface-review-body-horror-dcu-1235223002/) ## Total Film — Bradley Russell Rating 3/5. 21 October 2026. The critic finds the film an uneven but entertaining horror experiment, with a safe script and shallow themes holding it back. They praise Tom Rhys Harries’s performance and the squeamish effects, especially the Vesuvius nightclub sequence. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/dc-movies/clayface-review/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. The headline presents the film as an edgy but predictable body-horror spin-off. It singles out predictability as a drawback; the full review is inaccessible. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/clayface-review-the-batman-villain-gets-an-edgy-spin-off-in-james-watkins-gory-predictable-body-horror/5221662.article) ## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. Lee finds the film a middling, clumsily executed attempt that fails to make its story or Gotham setting compelling. He praises the intimate body-horror moments, especially the scene of Matt trying to cut through flesh growing over his eyes. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/21/clayface-movie-review-body-horror) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). Marric finds the film a gamble that pays off, praising its effective body horror and pulpy spirit. She especially singles out Tom Rhys Harries’s performance as the film’s standout. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/clayface-review/) ## Deadline — Glenn Garner Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. The critic finds the genre-driven origin story entertaining and worth seeing, especially for horror fans. They praise James Watkins’s jump-scares and graphic body-horror sequences. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2026/10/clayface-review-dcu-batman-villain-origin-story-body-horror-1237169912/) ## Den of Geek — Rosie Knight Rating 4/5. 21 October 2026. Knight praises the film as a magnificent, boundary-pushing horror triumph with an empathetic heart. She especially singles out its precisely controlled gore and the performances of Tom Rhys Harries and Naomi Ackie. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/clayface-review-horror-triumph-dc-studios/) ## Collider — Gabrielle Moss Rating 7/10. 21 October 2026. Moss finds the film most successful as gleefully gross body horror, while its thin characters and procedural-feeling dialogue weaken the story. She praises the inventive effects and dynamic, grotesque action sequences. [Read the review](https://collider.com/clayface-review-mike-flanagan-james-watkins-dcu/) ## Consequence — Liz Shannon Miller Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. Miller finds Clayface an effective, freaky standalone horror film, though its character work feels surface-level and its place in DC’s larger universe is unclear. She praises the gruesome horror sequences and shapeshifting set pieces, especially their convincing practical-effects magic. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2026/10/clayface-review-dc-comics-mike-flanagan/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. The critic finds it an effective, moderately successful monster movie, though not a great or especially original one. The gross-out effects and inventive moments of bodily horror are its main strengths. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/clayface-review-dc-tom-rhys-harries-james-watkins/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 5.5/10. 21 October 2026. The critic finds the film shapeless and underwhelming, though ultimately fine. They praise Tom Rhys Harries’s performance and single out the gory, transforming nightclub sequence as memorable. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/2293090/clayface-2026-movie-review/) ## The Playlist — Rodrigo Perez Rating C−. 21 October 2026. Perez finds the film visually striking but emotionally misjudged, with its tragedy undermined by tonal confusion. He praises the grotesque, convincing visual effects, while faulting their use for turning intended emotional moments into unintended comedy. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/clayface-review-james-watkins-tom-rhys-harries-20261021/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. The critic finds the film underwhelming overall despite its distinctive horror elements. They praise its commitment to body horror and Tom Rhys Harries’s lead performance. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a74191386/clayface-review-dc/) ## Polygon — Brian VanHooker Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2026. The critic finds the film dull and disappointing, with no compelling character to root for. They praise its gross body-horror moments but say it never becomes genuinely frightening. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/clayface-dc-2026-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/clayface.md