Critics were harsh on the film, and it received overwhelmingly negative reviews, with some calling it one of Liam Neeson's worst performances and movies.

The storyline, action sequences, and overall direction were widely criticized, adding to its reputation as a low point in Neeson's career.

Travis Block, a Vietnam War veteran, works off-the-books for FBI Director Gabriel Robinson as a fixer.

Block and Jones meet again and she tells him that Crane claimed to have information about Operation Unity, a top secret FBI program run by Robinson that kills innocent civilians, including Flores.

Robinson is arrested for his crimes, Jones completes her story about the government cover-up, and Block retires and reunites with his family who had been placed in Witness Protection but are now brought back home.

[13] In the United States and Canada, Blacklight was released alongside Death on the Nile and Marry Me, and was projected to gross $1–5 million from 2,772 theaters in its opening weekend.

"[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 27 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.

[16] Joe Leydon of Variety said: "If you approach it with sufficiently lowered expectations, and have fond memories of the '70s paranoid dramas that obviously inspired director and co-writer Mark Williams, this might be your house-brand jam.

"[21] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "Lacking a high concept or memorable central character, the film is a by-the-numbers actioner that coasts on its star's soulful gravitas and low-key charisma.