on its release in europe (in 1992) and north america (in 1994), "bitter moon" was not a commercial success and received mixed reviews from critics. "variety" commented that "roman polanski approaches rock bottom" and called the film "a phony slice of "huis clos" drama" with "a script that's all over the map and a tone that veers from outre comedy to erotic game-playing." janet maslin wrote in "the new york times": "whatever else mr. polanski may be -- nasty, mocking, darkly subversive in his view of the world -- he definitely isn't dull. "bitter moon" is the kind of world-class, defiantly bad film that has a life of its own." a positive review came from roger ebert who said "polanski directs it without compromise or apology, and it's a funny thing how critics may condescend to it, but while they're watching it you could hear a pin drop." "time out" commented that "polanski treats this slightly protracted tale of erotic obsession partly as deeply ironic black comedy", "rich and darkly disturbing" and "also wickedly entertaining." reviewing the film in 2009, scott tobias wrote: ""bitter moon" is my favorite of the later-period polanski films...nasty, potent, and psychologically knotty in a way that recalls the devil-may-care, "enfant terrible" polanski of old." according to journalist matthew tempest, he and film director christopher nolan shared "a soft spot" for "bitter moon" as students.