The initial reactions to Clayface are coming in now, and it is safe to say that the film has exceeded expectations. Directed by James Watkins, the film follows an actor, Matt Hagen (played by Tom Rhys Harries), who resorts to becoming a test subject for an experiment to get back his original face that was disfigured by a mob boss.The experiment is initially successful, but it leads to horrifying side effects that turn Matt's entire body into something that resembles clay. Some journalists and critics have watched the film ahead of its theatrical release, and one of the reactions to it includes the film getting called:"BRUTAL"Initial reactions to DC's Clayface ahead of theatrical releaseClayface will be released in theaters on October 23, 2026, but private screenings are being held for some journalists and critics. As Variety reports, all reactions to the film have been positive so far, with Peter Gray, the film critic, saying in an X post:“#Clayface has that comic book flair but that theatricality doesn’t diminish how BRUTAL it is! Dark, violent, with little levity to offset the nastiness, this is an exciting addition to Gunn’s DCU. Tom Rhys Harries brings equal boyish charm and quiet menace to the role.”Brandon Davis, the journalist, host, and YouTuber, talked about what he thought about the film in an X post. Davis called the film:"freakishly awesome."He then described it, saying:"Gruesome, dark moments and twisted ideas at play."Speaking about Harries' performance, he wrote:"Tom Rhys Harries is a star, literally in the movie and for his performance. Dude kills it. Well done by all."Chris Killian, the longtime host and commentator of ComicBook, also expressed his thoughts about the film on X, saying:"CLAYFACE is incredible! It molds Matt Hagen’s tragic backstory into a wildly gory spectacle. There are some crazy unique body horror moments that’ll make you squirm, but what I loved most is it’s also a heartfelt throwback to a bygone era of classic gothic romance films."Steven Weintraub, the editor-in-chief of Collider, expressed his thoughts on the film in an X post, saying:"Clayface was fantastic. An awesome addition to the DCU that doesn’t require any knowledge of DC to enjoy."He added:"It’s a hard R and loaded with brutal scenes that really surprised me... Strong recommend."Clayface is the third feature film to be released in the DC Universe's (DCU) Gods and Monsters chapter, produced under James Gunn and Peter Safran. The next film of the chapter is Superman: Man of Tomorrow, which will be released on July 9, 2027.Besides Harries, the film also stars Max Minghella, Naomi Ackie, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik, Nancy Carroll, Joshua James, Francesca Corney, Ruby Sear, and Wil Coban.The film is written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. It is produced by Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn, and Peter Safran. The production companies behind the film are 6th & Idaho, Troll Court Entertainment, and The Safran Company.Clayface will be released in theaters on October 23, 2026.For more articles like this, follow Soapcentral.