‘Portal to Hell’: Woody Bess On His Horror-Comedy Debut [THS Interview]

“Portal to Hell” is a new horror-comedy feature by Woody Bess. In his feature debut we see the exploration of a controversial question of is there an appropriate time when you can take a life? Is there a moment when it can be justified? This is what we see in the film that mostly takes place in a laundromat where Dunn, a debt collector with a very mundane life, encounters a portal to hell that now is asking him for three souls to save one of his neighbors.

“Portal to Hell” is now available to rent or buy at home.

Woody Bess On Feature Debut

With the release of “Portal to Hell”, I spoke with writer and director Bess about his feature debut. In our conversation we talked about what attracted him to this story and genre. He also shared with me his experience in working with a list of talent that included Trey Holland, Richard Kind, and Keith David. Bess also shares a funny story about how is set changed over the span of shooting and how they adjusted. Its a great conversation that you can check out below!

About “Portal to Hell”

Dunn is a debt collector. His life of routine is interrupted when a portal to hell appears in his local laundromat. A demon follows and explains in no uncertain terms that he’s there to drag Dunn’s neighbor, Mr. Bobshank, to hell. Bobshank owes a debt. Helping people pay their debts is what Dunn does best. A deal is offered — three souls to save Bobshank. Dunn says no. But one of his debtors follows him to the laundromat and well… once you do one, what’s another two? Dunn makes good on his end of the bargain.

But the portal stays. The demon explains. Who gets into heaven isn’t up to God or the Devil. It’s up to you. Bobshank hasn’t forgiven himself. Dunn can convince Bobshank to do just that. Or find a 4th soul. The question Dunn has to answer is if you throw away everyone that’s made mistakes, who’s left?