"the times" newspaper's anonymous critic gave "the curse of the daleks" a mixed but generally positive assessment in a review published on 22 december 1965. "no less compelling on the stage than the television screen, the daleks are the undoubted stars of this futuristic adventure story," opened the piece. the reviewer concluded that: "after their false start, depending too much on weak jokes and technical jargon, a feeling of genuine crisis is generated. and the patience of the youthful matinée audience is rewarded as the dalek menace increases. despite the rather stilted dialogue, the actors play with all possible conviction, and gillian howell's direction has the necessary pace."