Hello and Assalam-o-Alaikum!
I hope you are doing well.
Two nights ago, the light went out in our area. Full load-shedding. No fan. No TV. Just darkness and the sound of mosquitoes. My little brother got scared. So my mama said, “Let us watch a horror film on the mobile. If we are scared anyway, let us be scared properly!” We all laughed. We put the phone in the middle of the charpai, and under one small torch light, we watched a scary movie. Halfway through, my brother screamed so loud that the neighbors knocked on our gate. Ammi had to explain: “Bacha dar gaya, koi baat nahi.” That night I learned something: horror is best enjoyed together, in the dark, with people you love. And now that horror film is in cinemas — DC’s Clayface, released October 23.
Who Is Clayface?
You may know Batman. But do you know Clayface? He is one of Batman’s oldest enemies. A man made of clay. Living clay. He can change his shape. He can become anyone. Imagine meeting your best friend, and it is not your friend at all. It is Clayface. Scary, right?
In the comics, Clayface is Matt Hagen, an actor. He gets a special cream that turns his body into clay. Later, a doctor tries to help him, and things go very wrong. That doctor is Dr. Caitlin Bates. She will be in the film too. This is not a happy superhero story. This is a monster story.
The Clayface Film: What We Know
DC is making a full film on Clayface. It released on October 23, 2026 — it is in cinemas now! The film was first planned for September 11, but the date moved. Now it is finally here.
The director is James Watkins. The writers are Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Mike Flanagan is the king of horror. He made some of the scariest shows on Netflix. So you know this film will be truly scary. Not funny scary. Real scary.
The cast is strong. Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, the man who becomes Clayface. Naomi Ackie plays Dr. Caitlin Bates. Max Minghella is also in the film. No big superstar. No Batman. Just the monster and his story. That is brave. And new.
First Reviews Are Out
The first reviews came on October 21, just two days before release. And they are interesting. Variety called the film “Good, Gross Fun, With No Franchise Homework Required.” That means you do not need to watch ten old DC films to understand it. You can just walk in and enjoy.
The Hollywood Reporter’s roundup showed mixed feelings. Some critics called it “a Stroke of Brilliance.” Others called it “Messy DC Miss.” So people either love it or hate it. There is no middle. The film has a body-horror tone — scary scenes about the body changing. If you get scared easily, be ready.
For me, mixed reviews are a good sign. It means the film tried something different. Safe films get safe reviews. Brave films divide people. Clayface is clearly brave.
The Box Office Battle
Clayface is not alone this weekend. It opens against “You Can See Everything” and “Wildwood.” Guy Ritchie’s “Wife & Dog” is also coming. Four films. One weekend. Tough fight.
But Clayface has something special: it is different. People are tired of the same superhero films. A horror film from DC? That is new. That is fresh. If the reviews spread on TikTok and X, young people will rush to cinemas. Horror films do well when friends dare each other to watch.
Will Pakistan Watch Clayface?
Now the real question. Will Pakistan watch Clayface? I think yes. Pakistani viewers love horror. Our cinemas go full for scary films. Remember how people screamed during horror nights at Nueplex in Karachi and Atrium? Good times.
DC films have big fans here too. Young people in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi follow every DC release. Tickets cost Rs 800 to Rs 1,200. For a horror film, people go in groups. Five friends. One row. Lots of popcorn. Lots of screaming. Cinemas love that.
One small problem: the film has no big star. In Pakistan, star power sells tickets. But strong word of mouth can fix that. If the first viewers say “it is so scary,” the shows will fill. Fear is the best marketing.
My Own Small Story
Let me tell you my story. Last year, I watched a horror film at CineStar in Lahore with my friends. We took the last row. Big mistake. During the scariest scene, the sound was so loud that my friend threw her popcorn in the air. Popcorn rained on the people in front. They got angry. We said sorry. We laughed. We cried. It was the best cinema night of my life.
After the film, we walked out like heroes. “We survived!” we shouted in the parking lot. Strangers laughed with us. That is the magic of horror films. They turn strangers into friends. I hope Clayface gives us another night like that.
Should You Watch Clayface?
So, should you watch Clayface? If you love horror, yes. If you love DC, yes. If you are bored of the same old superhero stories, definitely yes. This film is different. It is scary. It is new. And you need no homework.
But if you get very scared, take a brave friend. Sit in the middle row. Keep some popcorn ready to throw. Just kidding. Do not throw popcorn. People get angry.
For more film stories, visit our Entertainment and Latest sections. Read our King movie story — Shah Rukh Khan’s teaser is coming. For the full background of the film, read Wikipedia’s Clayface page.
So tell me: will you watch Clayface on the first weekend? Or will you wait and let your friends test it first? Tell me everything through our Contact Us page. I read every message.
Take care,
Maryam
