Early New York reviews have been good. J. Hoberman at The Village Voice writes, "The headiest, head-scratching-est, damnedest, most demanding movie opening this week in New York. History is made present, although time and place are in constant flux." And in Time Out, Joshua Rothkopf called THE ISTER, "A thinking man's The Matrix crossed with Huckleberry Finn."

Previously, ArtForum hailed the film as "An original undertaking" while Cahiers du Cinéma cited it as “A gripping philosophical journey." Film Comment's review included praise such as, “A probing, evasive meditation on time, culture and change, images and actions, and the necessity for both.” and the San Francisco Bay Guardian said it was "Amazingly compelling!"