During a 1982 theatrical run of the film, critic Anthony DellaFlora of the "Albuquerque Journal" wrote of the film: "films are supposed to put you in a state of unmitigated terror. This one does neither. "The House on Sorority Row" may have brought new meaning to the term "Greek tragedy," but it certainly didn't scare anyone. Mark Rosman, who produced, directed and wrote the alleged thriller must take most of the blame for this." Lou Cedrone of "The Baltimore Sun" felt that there were "no surprises" or mystery in the film, adding that "the movie, bad as it is, is great fun if you are part of an audience that talks back to it." Stephen Hunter, also of the "Baltimore Sun", felt the film was similarly predictable, but noted that "technically, the strongest element in the production is the photography, which is keen-edged, brightly colored and evocative," comparing it to the film of Rainer Werner Fassbinder.