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Going to the laundromat becomes considerably more hazardous than usual this October as Woody Bess's horror-comedy Portal to Hell makes its way to DVD 19th October 2026 from Altitude Film Distribution.

Dunn is a debt collector. It's hardly the most glamorous profession, but he understands debts. People owe something, somebody has to collect it, and Dunn has settled comfortably into the repetitive routine of his everyday life.

Then a portal to Hell opens inside a washing machine at his local laundromat. As if that wasn't sufficiently inconvenient, a demon emerges with some particularly bad news concerning Dunn's elderly neighbour, Mr. Bobshank. Apparently Bobshank owes a debt of his own - and Hell has finally come to collect.

The demon intends to drag Bobshank downstairs, but Dunn isn't prepared to simply stand aside and let that happen. After all, helping people deal with their debts is what he does for a living. Fortunately, the demon is prepared to negotiate. Unfortunately, the price is three human souls.

Dunn initially refuses the offer, but when one of his own debtors unexpectedly follows him into the laundromat, circumstances present him with an opportunity to reconsider. One soul subsequently becomes two. Two becomes three. Before long Dunn has fulfilled his side of the bargain.

There's just one problem. The portal remains open. It turns out that Bobshank's situation is considerably more complicated than an outstanding supernatural account. Whether somebody ultimately reaches Heaven or Hell isn't simply a decision made by God or the Devil - and Bobshank's greatest obstacle may be his inability to forgive himself.

Dunn consequently faces another choice. He can help his neighbour confront the guilt that has condemned him, or he can simply provide Hell with another soul.

Written and directed by Woody Bess, Portal to Hell combines supernatural horror with an increasingly absurd black comedy before using its wonderfully ridiculous central premise to explore some surprisingly serious questions about guilt, forgiveness and whether a person's worst mistakes should define the rest of their life.

Trey Holland stars as Dunn, with veteran character actor Keith David playing his neighbour Mr. Bobshank. Richard Kind takes on the film's supernatural duties as Chip, the demon responsible for presenting Dunn with his unusual proposition, while Romina D'Ugo stars as Ed. Michael McDonald, Casey Deidrick, Kevin Fonteyne, Monet Weir and Vanessa Vander Pluym are among the supporting ensemble.

Portal to Hell marks Woody Bess's feature directorial debut, with Bess also writing the screenplay and serving as cinematographer and producer. The independent production began attracting attention on the festival circuit during 2025, where its mixture of horror, comedy and unexpectedly thoughtful themes helped distinguish it from the more conventional demonic-possession fare suggested by its title.