modern critical reception of the film has been generally positive. channel 4 gave the film a four stars out of five rating describing the film as a "sensational crime drama" and "some of the dialogue is clunky, much of the acting...is alien to modern audiences...the final sequence involving the destruction of a huge chemical works and a car chase through eerily lit woods, round hairpin bends and over a closing level crossing is one of the triumphs of early cinema." "tv guide" gave the film a five out of five star rating terming it "a haunting, suspenseful sequel". critic leonard maltin gave the film three and a half stars out of four and compared it to "dr. mabuse the gambler" stating that it is "less stylized but no less entertaining". the online film database allmovie rated the film four stars out five, stating that by "mixing several genres including cop drama, mystery, and horror, lang created a rare hybrid picture full of striking characters and images."