Critical reception
The film was negatively received at the time of its release; Vincent Canby of The New York Times noted that "Peter Cushing ... brings a certain seedy grandeur to the role," but dismissed the film as "silly," particularly due to the contemporary setting. A review in Variety called it a "Fair horror picture ... [that] suffers from poor writing, plus often sluggish direction."
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The classicism of the plot is nowhere reflected in Robert Hartford-Davis' direction, which finds its inspiration in such divergent sources as Blow-Up and The Penthouse. Murders and surgical operations are shown in lingering detail (with an anamorphic squeeze to establish atmosphere), and the elements of suspense and horror derive not from any subtly created mood or logical sequence of monstrosities but from the bludgeoning emphasis on physically unpleasant details, like the severed head kept in the refrigerator in a polythene bag next to the butter."
The film has been better received in recent years as a cult film, sometimes enjoyed for its camp value. Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com wrote in his 2013 review: "This 1968 film is set during the Swinging London period of gaudy liberation, where colors exploded, hair was uncomfortably cut, and free love was rampant. The image of Cushing, with his gentlemanly manner and impeccable style, is a potent one in the midst of all the youthful madness, with the opening of the effort traveling to a boisterous party where John is cornered by a picky hippie while Lynn's photographer guru goads her into nude shots. Corruption quickly moves away from the freak-out showdown, but its period fashion sense remains, lending the movie a distinct look that's almost as entertaining to study as the murder spree ... Corruption finds a pitch of cinematic madness and holds there for most of the picture, remaining taut, with a pinch of sleaze for seasoning."
Critic Paul Chambers wrote: "Silly, but entertaining. That’s the best way to describe Corruption, the story of a wealthy surgeon during the swinging 1960s who would do anything to keep his young girlfriend happy ... Corruption is a hoot. It was made in the late 1960s and authentically depicts London’s free love and hip culture that was later lampooned in the Austin Powers comedies. Only this film was intended to be a serious horror flick and the costumes and sets are all that more enjoyable because ... well, just because. Peter Cushing is over-the-top crazy in this grindhouse-style goreathon. It’s hard to imagine the filmmakers didn’t know the end product would be campy. But, that makes little difference to today’s audience. I see Corruption as a time capsule, of sorts."
Critic John Beifuss wrote: "Probably the imperfect jewel of British director Robert Hartford-Davis's oddball filmography...Corruption had been perhaps the rarest of horror superstar Peter Cushing's many, many genre movies until the October appearance of this beautifully remastered and restored edition from Grindhouse Releasing, a company that exceeds even the Criterion Collection in its determination to create the definitive editions of the titles it licenses ... A truly wacked-out work of art."
