[4][9] Stuart Galbraith IV praised the performances of the film's cast overall, with the exception of Koji Nanbara, whom he found "more than a little over-the-top".

[7] He felt its monochrome lensing added "immeasurably to the harsh, snowy environment", something lost on the later films in the franchise due to them being in color.

[7] In a review of Eureka's release of the first three films, Dillon Gonzales of Geek Vibes Nation cited the original as his favorite.

[11] Toei produced 17 sequels in the Abashiri Prison film series between 1965 and 1972, all starring Ken Takakura and scored by Masao Yagi, and with Ishii returning to direct the first nine.

[4] The final eight installments were released under the title New Abashiri Prison, with Masahiro Makino directing the first two, Kiyoshi Saeki the third, and Yasuo Furuhata handling the last five.

Mark Schilling writes that Japanese critics and fans widely regard the third installment, Abashiri Prison: Saga of Homesickness (1965), as the best in the franchise.

[8] When asked why the third film was set in Kyushu, Ishii explained that when he told Toei he could not make another installment in the series yet because it was not winter, they remarked that it did not matter and he could shoot anything as long as the theme song was on the soundtrack.