critics variously called "the harrowing" the "nastiest", "most gothic" and most horrorific episode of "inside no. 9". it was described as "unashamedly macabre" by "metro" journalists, "genuinely frightening" by david upton of "popmatters", and "a genuine fright fest" by dessau. despite both reviews characterising "the harrowing" as one of the weaker episodes of the series, it was called "very creepy" in the "liverpool echo", and the closing scene was described as extremely scary in the "metro". critics writing for "the sunday times" said that the episode "really is best avoided by those of a nervous disposition", and the sentiment was echoed in the "cheddar valley gazette", where it was suggested that the character of andras "certainly warranted the warning of disturbing scenes" given before the episode.