how did the critics respond to it?
It received positive reviews from critics, with particular note to the cast, tone, score and cinematography.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" received positive reviews from critics, with particular note to the cast, tone, score and cinematography. 
the girl with the dragon tatoo movie series UNANSWERABLE what genre is this movie? Psychological crime thriller what is it based on? It is based on the novel by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson. was it screened before the main release? Yes, its screening was a part of a critics-only event hosted by the New York Film Critics Circle.
wiki:18170581
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film) [SEP] Critical response
"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" received positive reviews from critics, with particular note to the cast, tone, score and cinematography. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 86%, based on 249 reviews, with an average rating of 7.59/10. The site's consensus states, "Brutal yet captivating, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is the result of David Fincher working at his lurid best with total role commitment from star Rooney Mara." At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score, the film received an average score of 71 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".