It is a mid-tempo R&B song with EDM influence and instrumentation featuring Timbaland's signature ad-libs, record-scratching, heavy drums, melodic bass, orchestration and synthesizer.

"Tunnel Vision" received generally positive reviews from music critics, most of whom praised Timbaland's production, and it was cited as The 20/20 Experience's highlight.

The music video for "Tunnel Vision" was directed by Jonathan Craven, Simon McLoughlin and Jeff Nicholas, and premiered on July 3 on Timberlake's Vevo channel.

[2][3] Kia Macarechi of The Huffington Post found the artwork unpleasant and unusual;[4] according to Justin Myers of the Official Charts Company, Timberlake "seems to be playing up to his naughty nickname of Trousersnake with the cover".

[5] Zach Dionne of New York's Vulture website called the cover "awful boobnose single art", committing to "the smoky naked woman vibe".

[19] Billboard's Jason Lipshutz noted that it has an instrumentation that features "fizzing beats abetted by the producer's [Timbaland] signature ad-libs and vocal record-scratches",[20] while according to Sobhi Youssef of Sputnikmusic the song is built on "still-existing chops with a drum heavy, syncopated backbone amidst frenetically shifting bass melodies, sweeping orchestrations, and vacuous synths that all coalesce into a fuzzed out boom-bap.

"[21] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media called the synthesizer "sinister"[22] and, according to Slant Magazine's Eric Henderson, it has Middle Eastern tones.

[23] Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle called the beats and vocal loops on "Tunnel Vision" reminiscent of Timbaland's past work with the late American singer Aaliyah.

[25] "Tunnel Vision" features "thrilling" evolutions in production and arrangement complementing Timberlake's vocals,[20] and the song's unusual, abrupt changes unite it throughout.

[26] It borrows the "dark alley" rhythm of The 20/20 Experience's third track, "Don't Hold the Wall"; Timberlake sings in his lower register, with an "exciting" upward arpeggio.

[27] Timbaland uses the singer's voice as a "flexible instrument to enhance his tech savvy soundscape",[28] constructing "layers of production elements into towers of sonic force".

[29] Lauren Martin of Fact called the song the start of Timbaland's "Bollywood influenced 'Indian Flute' era" and a tease; Timberlake's voice is redistributed, with wider range and suspense.

"[32] Mellisa Maerz of Entertainment Weekly wrote that on "Tunnel Vision", Timberlake is lyrically "playing the rom-com director": "Just like a movie shoot, I’m zoomin’ in on you as we ride off into the sun.

[34] Consequence of Sound's Sarah H. Grant wrote that "Tunnel Vision" and "Don't Hold the Wall" were the album's highlights, similar to Timberlake's best work with 'NSYNC.

"[38] Fact magazine's Lauren Martin described "Tunnel Vision" and "Don't Hold the Wall" as "two rousing, if mildly deja vu inducing, efforts.

[52] Jordan Sargent of Spin called the set pieces where projections of Timberlake interact with the nude dancers "a fractured dynamic that mirrors 'Tunnel Vision' itself".

[56] According to Spin's Jordan Sargent, "Like his new album The 20/20 Experience, in which half the songs run longer than seven minutes, the 'Tunnel Vision' video is self-consciously artistic and mature.

Although a YouTube representative declined to comment on individual videos, he issued a statement: "While our guidelines generally prohibit nudity, we make exceptions when it is presented in an educational, documentary or artistic context, and take care to add appropriate warnings and age restrictions".

[62] Timberlake first performed "Tunnel Vision" at the Phoenix Park concert in Dublin, Ireland, as part of a set list which included "Cry Me a River", "SexyBack" and "My Love".