The Guardian journalist Ben Beaumont-Thomas gave the song five-out-of-five stars, and said in his review, "On the basis of Filthy, he absolutely can. Beginning with some bombastic guitar rock, it transmogrifies into a beautifully dark, undulating funk track underpinned by a whiplash bass womp". He described the song as a "grownup funk masterpiece," and added "the chorus, which modulates into a sweeter, smoother key, is signature Timberlake." In
XXL, C. Vernon Coleman II stated the production provides a "fitting soundscape for the single, as they deploy out of this world synths with pulsating
808s." In
NME, Larry Barleet reacted positively, stating "Timberlake pulls it off," and adding "what's really brilliant about 'Filthy' is that it's proof that JT isn't done with innovating." Also from
NME, Nick Reily described the track as "futuristic".
Rap-Up opined the "dance-ready" track finds the team experimenting with "a new futuristic sound." Christopher R. Weingarten of
Rolling Stone said it is "hard" to call the song pop "since the production is so
avant-garde." He further commented the producers Timbaland and Danja "conjure a testosterone electronic chainsaw grind and match it with vintage
Larry Graham-style slap bass: The fact that the two musical elements don't exactly match groovewise creates a beautiful and disorienting tension unlike anything on the radio." Ed Masley of
The Arizona Republic described it as a "suitably robotic, an electro-funk sex jam." Chris Willman of
Variety thought the single and visuals in the context of the album may represent Timberlake's former self "albeit one who's clearly still capable of coming to the phone, still getting his sexy-back kicks in before the muse draws him into a more reflective forest."
Jon Caramanica of
The New York Times opined it is an "unimaginative but slyly effective electro-funk vamp with
acid house accents... It's cyclical and deliberate, like late-1970s
big-band soul music." In
The Ringer, Lindsay Zoladz opined it "sounds like a new-millennium update of
David Bowie's "
Fame." Bryan Rolli of
The Daily Dot said the song "sounds right at home next to other JT smash hits such as "
Suit & Tie" and "
SexyBack," while the singer "delivers a sensual, understated vocal performance." Radio station
Capital FM listed it among the seven best songs, and
Capital XTRA included it among the best R&B songs, of the first bimester of 2018. Other writers expressed unfavorable opinions. In
Pitchfork, Katherine St. Asaph criticized its lyrics and sound. Will Lavin of
Joe thought it sounds "dated, clunky and out of touch." Eric Renner of
Entertainment Weekly called it "empty" and said it is a "stuttering mess of electronic and funk". ==Music video==