This is an exceedingly well directed, cleverly filmed and edited, tension-filled affair. It is also a wholly preposterous, muddled, paranoid view of the inner-city nightmare where the slightest misstep is sure to have a fateful result.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
2 Sep 2008
fresh:
A tight, energetic sleeper in the action-adventure genre, manages to pack a few anti-machismo sentiments into an otherwise brawny tale.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
rotten:
The filmmakers have made a big deal of a soundtrack that features 10 collaborations between rappers and rockers (the theme is performed by De La Soul and Teenage Fan Club), but their casting consciousness is less adventurous.
– Richard Harrington,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
It's refreshing to know that it's not just characters in horror films who are irredeemably dumb.
– James Berardinelli,
ReelViews,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
Perhaps the ultimate Judgment comes from Estevez, who observes: 'Nothing about tonight makes sense.'