On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 33% based on reviews from 6 critics.

The initial 1997 reviews from American critics were highly negative. The film had an estimated production budget of $5 million and Depp agreed to pay if the cost went over, and may have put as much as $2 million of his own money into the film. Depp didn't like the original script, but still took on the project as he was moved by 'the idea of sacrifice for family.' Depp cast himself in the lead role as a means to attract interest from potential financers. In 1994, they were able to convince Johnny Depp to rewrite, direct and produce the film. In spite of this major setback, McCudden and his production partner Charles Evans persisted in trying to get the film made, as they had already invested a substantial amount of their own money into it. With the director of the film missing and presumed responsible for the murder of his family, Touchstone immediately suspended production. His body would not be found by Los Angeles police for over a month.

In December 1993 however, Aziz Ghazal (the first time director from USC film school who was attached to the picture) killed his wife and daughter before committing suicide. Disney's Touchstone Pictures eventually picked up the film, and work on it was set to happen at the start of 1994. The initial script, written by Paul McCudden and based on a book by Gregory Mcdonald, attracted interest from Hollywood studios in 1993, despite the dark nature of the story.

Clarence Williams III as Father Stratton.

Marlon Brando as McCarthy, the snuff film's director/producer.

The brave cast 2018