By Darren Paltrowitz - Per the new film Portal To Hell -- which premiered this week at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival -- 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?

Portal To Hell was written and directed by Woody Bess. Its cast includes Trey Holland, Keith David, Richard Kind, Michael McDonald, Romina D'Ugo and Ray Porter. The horror-comedy was produced by Trey Holland and Lucas Ford and has a run time of 93 minutes.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Woody Bess and Trey Holland via Zoom, as embedded above and set to air via the Long Beach, New York-based Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz series. More on the film and its stars can be found here.