'Clayface' hailed as best villain origin story since ‘The Joker’

DC Studios' first horror film, Clayface, is generating positive early attention for its portrayal of a villain's origin. Viewers who have seen the film have described it as the best villain origin story since The Joker, placing the new release in direct conversation with one of the best-known comic-book films about a character's transformation. That comparison has become the central part of the early promotional conversation.

The movie centers on the body-horror idea suggested by its title and has been presented as the first horror film from the studio. Early praise indicates that reviewers are particularly interested in how the story develops its central villain and uses physical transformation as part of that narrative. The available information does not identify the cast members beyond the film title, so the strength of the reaction appears to rest at least partly on the premise, the villain's journey and the production's approach to horror.

Clayface is scheduled to open in theaters on October 23. The early response matters for DC Studios because a well-received horror film could give the studio a distinct foothold in a genre outside its most familiar superhero projects. It also gives moviegoers another major comic-book adaptation to consider, with the reported comparison to The Joker setting a high expectation before the wider release.