Portal in the Pines – Movie Review (3/5)

PORTAL IN THE PINES is a new indie sci-fi horror movie that has a lot going for it. Worth checking out for any genre fan looking for something new. Sure, it could have been even better with a bigger budget, but that doesn’t take anything away from the production value of this movie as it stands. Read our full Portal in the Pines movie review here!

PORTAL IN THE PINES is a sci-fi horror movie that proves you will get much further with passion and talent than with a big budget. This genre movie was made with a very low budget and is a true indie production, but the plot, production, and acting make it worth checking out.

Obviously, a bigger budget would have made it easier to make, but I would much rather watch a movie like this than productions with ten times the budget and no passion. I love that a well-known name (and face) like Jamie Kennedy (Scream) is involved with this production, which again speaks to the quality of this production.

Continue reading our Portal in the Pines movie review below.

An actual portal… in the pines

The title of Portal in the Pines is more than just nice imagery; it is also the actual plot. There is a pine forest, and this is where an actual portal to hell is. Or, you know, something very sinister at the very least.

The official plot speaks of a secret particle collider having opened a portal to hell, and really, that’s all you need to know.

Also, Portal in the Pines manages to create some truly eerie (and downright terrifying) moments with a very low budget. From the practical effects to the efficient jump scares, this movie had so many solid moments that were perfectly timed.

I absolutely adore it when a filmmaker is able to create enough tension and intensity that simply a well-timed action will be enough to create a true jump scare. Or, at the very least, if you’re not as jumpy, moments that will make you squirm.

Support low-budget and discover new talent

As someone who watches a lot of genre movies and series, you’ll have to trust me when I say that big-budget production can be forgotten by the time the end credits begin, but a passion project stays with you much longer. Portal in the Pines is a true passion project from someone with actual talent.

In fact, even the song playing during the opening credits worked for me. Essentially, I had a good feeling about this movie very early on. No, it’s not perfect. And yes, there is room for improvement. However, it is still better than many movies with a much bigger budget.

When I think back on the productions I watched in 2025, it is very often movies with a smaller budget that have stuck with me. A movie like Frankie, Maniac Woman was among my favorites of 2025 overall.

And sure, yes, we also have movies from Guillermo del Toro and the Philippou Brothers. Then again, they all started in low-budget genre productions as well. As such, they prove my point that passion and talent beat budget, every single time.

Check out our Best Horror Movies of 2025, which illustrates this nicely – find the “Best Of” list right here >

Watch Portal in the Pines on Digital

Portal in the Pines is a film directed by Eric Gibson, who also wrote the screenplay alongside Leslie Beaumont and Kemerton Hargrove. Eric Gibson produced a movie co-written by Leslie Beaumont. We reviewed (and liked) that one as well. It’s called Cabin Girl (2023) and is also worth checking out, though not a sci-fi production.

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The horror, mystery, thriller Cabin Girl on Tubi >

Right now, Portal in the Pines has been released on Amazon and Fandango, so you can actually watch it right away. Often, getting released anywhere is a struggle for indie and low-budget productions.

It’s also a reason why we screen and review these movies to help them along, when we see something we like. Check it out now!

Portal in the Pines is out on Digital now.

Details

Director: Eric Gibson
Cast: Garrett Kruithof, Ashton Leigh, Chris Alan Evans, Jamie Kennedy, Ted Ferguson, Patrick Kirton, Vince Jolivette