"All [the killings] are executed (pardon the pun) with above-average flair, wisely avoiding the genre's mainstream equation of sex-equals-death. When the twitch of a headless corpse gets the movie's biggest laugh, it's clear that Etheredge-Ouzts knows what he's doing. As a generic slasher film with a difference, "HellBent" should neither be dismissed out of hand nor overpraised for its uniqueness. Still, there's something refreshing about its likable cast and B-movie vitality, recalling bygone days when cheap, independent horror films could get theatrically released and deservedly appreciated. And even though the killer's motives are never explained, he still gets the last laugh, and it's a good one." - Jeff Shannon, Seattle Times