"the new york times" concluded "mr. losey said the producer ruined it by cutting. the rejoinder is: he didn't cut it enough"; while in a similarly unfavourable review, dennis schwartz opined "the story itself is the film’s main problem, because it is so unsettling and perverse. it never lets in any sunlight"; however derek winnert noted "losey’s dark thriller is really rather effective and underrated, and the actors are spot on in tailor-made roles."