"Variety" film critic Leonard Klady referred to the film as "a vanity production parading as a social statement" and commented that the film seemingly borrowed heavily from the earlier film, "Billy Jack" but opined that Seagal lacked "acting technique and the ability behind the camera to keep the story simple and direct" that "Billy Jack" star Tom Laughlin, exhibited.Like Siskel, Klady also singled out the speech by Seagal's character at the end of the film.