★★★★½
Portal to Hell is a horror comedy that takes the genre to a whole new level, crafting an interesting premise with unforgettable characters and stellar execution. It offers a film that plays as a hilarious, intriguing experience on the surface, with incredible character subtext that is pieced together brilliantly.
Written and directed by Woody Bess, the film follows Dunn, a private contractor—a debt collector—whose world takes an unexpected turn when a portal to hell opens at his local laundromat.
Bess blends the two genres seamlessly, approaching the film with what seems like two different levels of engagement that play off each other fantastically.
A lot of films work both as character-driven narratives, paired with compelling and heavy story attributes.
Yet not very many films work on a sublevel that allows a film to play to different audiences at different impact points.
Bess blends the two genres seamlessly, approaching the film with what seems like two different levels of engagement that play off each other fantastically.
The film works as a standout comedy. A funny, witty horror comedy that’s heavy on the comedy and light on the horror.
It offers hilarious jokes and funny moments, with characters that are so embracing and entertaining. You could spend 90 minutes just hanging out with them and have a blast.
While the subtext of the film—the layer under the witty banter and fun characters—is a heavy and heartfelt character narrative that explores real emotional trauma that is grounded and raw.
The character of Dunn reminds me very much of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory: someone who is intelligent but has no social cues or understanding of people’s emotional context. This plays well both in the context of the comedy and the underlying character-driven narrative.
He’s tasked with the daunting reality that his neighbor, whom he believes is his friend, is going to be dragged to hell, and the world may potentially end if he doesn’t sacrifice three souls through the portal to hell.
While the film introduces the central conflict that must be overcome, it also introduces the subtextual concept that offers a deeper look into morality.
What happens when you task a good person with a terrible, unthinkable act, with the expectation that those actions are justified by the greater good?
This insightful and hilarious script would be nothing without proper execution, which Bess delivers.
His vision throughout the entire film is clear and precise. Bess knows exactly the style of film he wants to deliver and how to do so with not only style but substance.
The stellar execution stems from a clear vision and his ability to vocalize that vision in areas he doesn’t directly handle.
He also acted as the film’s cinematographer alongside writing and directing.
To which he delivers. The cinematography is vibrant and crisp. So many of the shots in the film have intention beyond simply showing us the characters on screen or depicting the actions.
There is clearly intention behind the vast majority of his shots, extending to offering insights and context to the characters and the story.
The way Bess captures the shot with the sticky notes on the wall—perfectly framed and crisp, showcasing this perfectly aligned wall of names—offers an insightful detail into Dunn’s personality. His attention to detail and how precise and organized he is.
Even the montage scenes of Dunn getting ready for work in the beginning of the film—the way he pours his coffee, sharpens his pencils—focus on and capture the details of his personality perfectly.
So many of the shots in the film have intention beyond simply showing us the characters on screen or depicting the actions.
It’s accompanied by an incredible score by Prateek Rajagopal that is spot-on. The score and soundtrack work together to help create the tone, which is steady throughout. Never a dip or offset. Even when there is a shift in tone, the score doesn’t flip; it merely settles down, allowing the narrative to shift the emotional weight and not the score.
Trey Holland gives a fantastic performance, embodying the character perfectly and really bringing Dunn to life. From the little details in his personality and quirks to the range and depth he shows, all while being restricted by the character’s lack of ability to fully read the room.
Portal to Hell is more than merely a horror comedy. It blends aspects of drama, offering an extra layer of depth that is blended seamlessly into the film, making it playable at two different levels of engagement.
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