James Gunn Recommends 12 Horror Movies Ahead Of R-Rated Batman Film

Published Oct 14, 2026, 5:30 PM EDT Jennifer is a TV and Movie News Editor at ScreenRant. She started her journey in entertainment media in 2022 when she first joined Valnet at CBR before coming to ScreenRant. Jennifer loves TV, especially science fiction. She also loves late-night talk shows, due to her insomnia. Alien: Earth is definitely one of her favorite shows, and she jumps on any chance she gets to write about it. Even on her days off, she will claim an Alien Earth article if one is available. Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon are two of her favorite late-night hosts, and Conan O'Brien before he left his show. Her Alien: Earth coverage for ScreenRant is by far the work that she is most proud of so far. She was initially a finance and political editor, but her passion for pop culture convinced her to transition into entertainment journalism. During her off time, she loves to binge-watch cooking shows such as Kitchen Nightmares. Jennifer also loves spending time with her daughter and cherishes every moment of it. James Gunn reveals which horror movies are a must-watch before the arrival of an iconic Batman villain's big screen debut. DC Studios co-CEO Gunn has shared a list of 12 classic body horror movies ahead of the release of Clayface. The upcoming R-rated film follows the origin story of one of Batman's most recognizable villains and his tragic transformation. These recommendations arrive as DC Studios prepares to explore a darker side of its superhero universe, with the movie taking on themes of psychological and body horror instead of what viewers are used to seeing while watching comic book adaptations. Directed by James Watkins, Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an aspiring actor whose career and life take a brutal turn after he is horribly disfigured. Desperate to restore his former appearance, Hagen decides to go through with an experimental treatment that will undo the damage. However, it has unexpected consequences, transforming him into the titular villain. The movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 23, 2026, just ahead of Halloween. Just before the film's release, Gunn took to Threads to share 12 body horror movies that hold a special place in his heart and that he would recommend viewing before Clayface. In his post, he listed Shivers (David Cronenberg), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Philip Kaufman), The Brood (David Cronenberg), Altered States (Ken Russell), The Thing (John Carpenter), Basket Case (Frank Henenlotter), Videodrome (Cronenberg), Re-Animator (Stuart Gordon), The Fly (Cronenberg), The Blob (Chuck Russell), Cronos (Guillermo del Toro), and his own film Slither. Cronenberg has the strongest presence on Gunn's list, taking four of the 12 slots. His films often explore the relationship between human bodies, technology, disease, and psychological torture. Among the director's most recognizable projects in the genre is The Fly, which follows a scientist named Seth Brundle, played by Jeff Goldblum, whose experiment with teleportation produces horrifying physical consequences. Gunn's recommendations are very relevant given Clayface's abilities in DC Comics. The villain is known for changing forms and losing his identity, which fits in with the films in his post. However, Gunn's list should not be viewed as confirmation that the upcoming film will closely resemble scenes or concepts from any of the movies. Image via MovieStillsDB With Clayface arriving in theaters during the spooky season, Gunn's suggestions offer horror fans a collection of genre classics to revisit before the release. It also reinforces the creative direction that DC Studios is going in with its newest origin story, placing Clayface in the middle of a horror story instead of following the traditional formula for mainstream comic book adaptations. DC Studios' Clayface will be released in theaters on October 23, 2026. Release Date October 23, 2026 Runtime 108 Minutes Director James Watkins Cast Tom Rhys Harries Matt Hagen / Clayface Naomi Ackie Dr. Caitlin Bates