The first critic review to surface ahead of the October 21 embargo lift—a 2.5/5 from ComicBookMovie.com’s Josh Wilding labeling it “DC’s Morbius moment” for thin horror, uneven effects, and diluted comic roots—has introduced immediate downward pressure on trader expectations for the Tomatometer. Positive early audience reactions from surprise screenings and a 3.7/5 Letterboxd debut from premiere crowds provide a counter-narrative, highlighting Tom Rhys Harries’ performance and the body-horror premise scripted by Mike Flanagan. With James Gunn and Matt Reeves producing the $30–40 million R-rated DCU experiment, the full wave of guild-aligned critic scores arriving this week will determine whether the film lands in the mid-60s range seen on related prediction platforms or shifts sharply on opening-weekend tracking.