Clayface has arrived with a difficult premise to sell: a horror film about one of Batman’s villains that does not feature Batman. Early reactions, however, suggest that James Watkins’ film has turned that risk into a major success.
The film is not scheduled to reach Australian cinemas until 23 October, but journalists and online commentators have already shared their first impressions. The response so far is overwhelmingly positive, describing Clayface as both an effective horror movie and a strong addition to James Gunn’s DC Universe.
Watkins directed the film from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. YouTuber Brandon Davis called it “freakishly awesome” and singled out Tom Rhys Harries for praise.
Peter Gray also highlighted Harries’ performance, describing the actor’s portrayal as a balance of youthful charm and restrained menace. Those early comments indicate that the central performance may be one of the film’s strongest assets.
A horror film that stands on its own
One concern surrounding Clayface was whether the absence of Batman would weaken its connection to the wider DC setting. Early responses suggest the opposite. Edward Douglas said the film works as horror without requiring viewers to know anything before entering the cinema.
That approach may disappoint audiences looking for constant DC Universe connections, but it appears to give the film room to establish its own identity. For readers following the wider arcade and gaming news landscape, it is a familiar creative question: can a recognisable character support a focused experience without relying entirely on its larger franchise?
The early reactions also point to some particularly unsettling sequences. Chris Killian said the film is likely to make audiences squirm, while praising its heartfelt atmosphere and its connection to classic gothic romance cinema.
At this stage, there are no notable negative reactions in the material released from the early screenings. The response has instead been consistently enthusiastic, with the film being described as a surprisingly successful low-budget horror gamble.
When will Batman enter the new DC Universe?
The positive response still leaves one major question: where does Batman fit into James Gunn’s DC Universe? His absence has been widely discussed since Gunn took control of DC Studios.
Robert Pattinson is expected to return as Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part 2, but that series is not part of Gunn’s shared DC Universe. Production on the sequel is also currently halted.
Gunn’s own Batman project, The Brave and the Bold, remains in early development. That means the next canonical DCU Batman may still be several years away, although the character could potentially appear in another project first. No such introduction has been confirmed.
For now, fans can only speculate about a future confrontation between Batman and Clayface. The character’s introduction through a self-contained horror story may ultimately make that meeting more effective, should it happen.
Clayface opens in cinemas on 23 October. Australian readers planning a dedicated home entertainment setup can also explore RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide or browse the available arcade machines.
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