Davide Abbatescianni of
Cineuropa called the film "a truly over-the-top noir gothic thriller, unsettling and ridiculous". Emanuele Di Nicola of
Cinematografo.it gave the film three-and-a-half out of five stars, calling it "an arcane and mysterious story, a tale of fear that is also a declaration of being". Alessia Pelonzi of
Badtaste called the film "fascinating but unresolved". Paola Casella of
Mymovies.it gave the film two-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "Avati is, as always, very skilled at creating suspended atmospheres, even if here he risks disorientation." On the other hand, A.S. Chianese of
Nocturno gave the film four-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote, "
The American Backyard testifies to Avati's firm will to handle at all costs that refined film material that went to compose the American horror classics." ==Awards and nominations==