James Gunn’s DC just dropped the first full-length trailer for Clayface, and I am completely sold. This isn’t just another superhero movie—it’s a full-on body horror film that just happens to be about one of Batman’s most fascinating rogues.
The biggest comparison I kept thinking of while watching it was The Substance meets The Fly. That’s the energy this trailer gives off. It’s unsettling, grotesque, and surprisingly beautiful to look at. Every shot of Matt Hagen’s body beginning to betray him is uncomfortable in the best possible way. The practical-looking makeup, the visual effects, and the way his transformation unfolds all look phenomenal. If the finished film delivers on what’s in this trailer, I genuinely think it could be in the conversation for Best Makeup at the Oscars.
Tom Rhy Harries looks fantastic as Matt Hagen/Clayface, and Naomi Ackie also stands out in the footage we’ve seen. But what impressed me most is that the trailer isn’t trying to sell us on Clayface himself. It barely shows the full monster. Instead, it’s selling the tragedy of Matt Hagen and the horrifying process of becoming Clayface.
Ironically, that’s what has me most excited. I’m less interested in seeing the final Clayface design than I am in watching the slow, horrifying transformation that gets him there. By the time we finally see him in his complete form, it should feel earned. That’s exactly how you make a character like Clayface work on the big screen.
It’s also impossible not to compare this to Avengers: Doomsday, whose trailer dropped earlier this week. That trailer did almost nothing for me. It left a lot of people wondering what the movie even is. Meanwhile, Clayface gives you a clear understanding of its story, its tone, and why you should care about this character.
That’s what a trailer is supposed to do.
The cinematography looks fantastic, the atmosphere is thick with dread, and the movie actually feels like it’s been crafted by filmmakers with a clear vision. There are gorgeous shots filmed on real streets, the aesthetic is distinct, and the music—bringing back the same haunting song from the teaser—perfectly reinforces the mood they’re going for.
The trailer also smartly teases Clayface’s eventual arrival without spoiling it. As for Batman? I still don’t think he’ll show up. Yes, Robert Pattinson reportedly visited the set at one point, and visually this absolutely looks like it could exist in Matt Reeves’ Gotham. But I’m not getting my hopes up. If Batman appears, it’ll be a bonus—not the reason to watch this movie.
The bigger story here is what this film could mean for DC.
One of the smartest things DC appears to be doing is taking a relatively B-list Batman villain and building an entirely different genre around him. This isn’t trying to be another world-ending superhero blockbuster. It’s a horror movie first. The superhero label is almost secondary.
That makes it far more interesting.
We’ve already seen original, lower-budget genre films find massive success through word of mouth this year, and Clayface feels like it could be the next one. Horror audiences have been embracing body horror in a huge way recently, and this movie looks perfectly positioned to capitalize on that trend.
The October release window feels like a much better fit than trying to squeeze it into the crowded summer blockbuster season. After Supergirl struggled with its release, Clayface arriving just before Halloween could end up being exactly what Warner Bros. needs.
If this movie is anywhere near as good as these first two trailers suggest, I think it could be a major hit. Not because people are desperate for another superhero movie, but because it genuinely looks like a great horror film.
And maybe that’s the lesson DC should take going forward.
Make more movies like this. Let directors experiment with genre. Tell smaller, more personal stories about characters who aren’t obvious A-listers. Then, when it’s time to build toward the bigger crossover films, those characters will actually feel like they’ve earned their place.
After watching this trailer, Clayface instantly became one of my most anticipated movies of the year.
I can’t wait.
