Clayface has already opened in many countries, despite the review embargo not lifting until this afternoon at 3 pm PT. Since last week's influencer reactions, the tide has turned on social media, and all eyes are now on what the movie's Rotten Tomatoes score will be.
As is often the case following international screenings, clips and photos from Clayface are being shared across platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok.
That includes an HD look at the movie's final scene featuring Matt Hagen's transformation into the comic book version of Clayface. However, in the now-deleted TikTok video—a screenshot of which can be found on X—it's clear the design is not fully comic-accurate and attempts to incorporate Tom Rhys Harries' face to make his monstrous form as twisted as possible.
The reaction on social media has been mixed. While some have said Clayface looks "terrifying," others have labelled the Creature Commandos villain "Poopface." It's admittedly not the most mature response, but it also probably isn't the type of reaction DC Studios was going for.
When it comes to comic book fans, they appear similarly unsure of what to think about Clayface's transition from page to screen.
An even bigger talking point on social media has actually been the scene that precedes this one. That features a scene with Clayface that's reminiscent of Senator Kelly's transformation into a puddle of water in 2000's X-Men. Warner Bros. has been so heavy-handed in taking down those leaked clips, it's started removing GIFs of Kelly (the two sequences look almost identical).
We're still waiting on news about Clayface's potential opening weekend, with tracking expected to be updated when the review embargo lifts. The buzz may be negative now, but when critics chime in, it will be fascinating to see where the movie lands.
In our review, we concluded, "Tom Rhys Harries shines in Clayface, an uninspired and unoriginal movie that's too light on horror and lacking in comic book personality to be anything but forgettable. It should have been a game-changer for the genre; instead, it's DC's Morbius moment."
In Clayface, Matt Hagen’s meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss’s actions leave him horribly disfigured. Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting-edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self, but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiralling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge.
The movie stars Tom Rhys Harries in the title role of the "cult-favourite" villain from Gotham's rogues' gallery. The cast includes Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan, as well as Nancy Carroll and Joshua James.
James Watkins directs from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Flanagan also getting a "Story by" credit.
Clayface will be released in theaters on October 23.