DC’s first horror movie is one of the more unusual projects in James Gunn’s DC Universe lineup. Leaning more into the body horror than traditional hero or villain action.
The opening weekend numbers were actually pretty impressive regarding the character that was the main showpiece in the movie. The domestic opening for the US and Canada was $24.0M, while the international opening was $19.0M, which in total was around a $43.0M worldwide opening on a production budget of around $40-$44M.
The Rotten Tomatoes critics have scored it an amazing 76%, while the audience has scored it an impressive 94%. CinemaScore has given it a fairly decent rating of an A-.
People are praising Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen. He’s singled out as one of the film’s strongest elements. The body horror is something audiences are enjoying, with the grotesque transformations and disturbing practical effects. Many fans are enjoying the fact that this movie focuses on a smaller villain who can tap into that horror aspect. The tragedy of Matt Hagen gives the film more depth than a straightforward monster movie.
With praise comes criticism. Critics believe the film takes too long to get moving, while others say the film draws heavily on established body-horror conventions. Some reviewers also feel the dialogue and narrative execution could have been stronger, while its standalone approach may disappoint some viewers’ expectations while expecting a larger interconnected superhero story.
It’s a promising opening, but not yet a confirmed financial success. With $43 million earned worldwide during its opening weekend, Clayface has made a promising start. DC’s horror gamble has won over audiences.
