Chain Reactions (film)

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 36 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Chain Reactions rewards horror fans and cinephiles alike with a thoughtful, unpretentious meditation on the cultural and artistic impact of one of cinema's most influential works."^[4]

Christian Zilko of IndieWire gave the film a B and wrote, "Exploration of our inexplicable attraction to horror is the true theme of the brilliantly titled Chain Reactions. Plenty of well-adjusted people have devoted their lives to capturing sadism, abuse, dismemberment, and sin in its many forms in cinema and literature. Using art as an outlet to purge our evil urges in a harmless manner and allow ourselves to live normal lives in polite society is an unambiguously good thing, but Philippe and his subjects are interested in figuring out why we have those urges in the first place."^[5]

Alan French of Sunshine State Cineplex gave the film a 7 out of 10 and wrote, "A love letter to an all-time classic, Chain Reactions shines as one of Philippe's most entertaining works. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre remains an integral piece of American cinema. As it turns fifty, there's no doubt it's earned its place in the sun. When creators like these come to prop up a movie's importance, you listen. Chain Reactions only furthers that legacy."^[6]