In a 2013 article published by the Film Society of Lincoln Center, Erik Luers wrote of the film: "The technical qualities of "Let's Scare Jessica to Death" are superb. With gorgeous cinematography and an audio track that takes on a life of its own, each sound and image presents a hazy version of reality. As the plot develops, we learn that the world around Jessica is scarier than anything her mind could concoct." Genre scholar Kim Newman has praised the film, specifically Lampert's performance, which he ranks as equal to those of Gena Rowlands in "A Woman Under the Influence" (1974), Carrie Snodgress in "Diary of a Mad Housewife" (1970), Shirley Knight in "The Rain People" (1969), and Susannah York in "Images" (1972), all "portrait of a woman in distress."