Ghost hunter shows are something that can only be explained after watching one for yourself. You channel browse and stop only for a moment to check out a show you thought would only be mildly interesting and you turn around to find you’ve spent the last 7 hours catching up on the last two seasons. And when you look back at those 7 hours what did you really see? One orb and an EVP that is debatable at best? But somehow it was still worth it. And that’s exactly what Portal is. Debatable in quality but still definitely worth the watch.

The synopsis: An ambitious ghost hunter performs a risky ritual, opening a portal to “the other side”. He and his tram quickly find themselves in way over their heads in a fight for survival against an ancient demonic force.

What immediately peaked my interest about this film was the cast. The main cast are no strangers to the horror genre and that showed on screen. The Ghost Seekers crew is headed by Steven (Ryan Merriman- Final Destination 3) and includes Producer Chris (Jamie Tisdale- From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series), Tech Guy Mason (Myk Watford- Darkness Rising) Cameraman Raz (Reinaldo Zavarce- Jane the Virgin), and Still Photographer Jen (Najarra Townsend- Contracted). The film also prominently features Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), and Gregory Zaragoza (Last of the Mohicans). With a cast like this the film showed promise and I can say strong performances were delivered by the cast. My personal favorite performances belong to Myk Watford (Mason) and Jamie Tisdale (Chris). Their characters were both enjoyable and believable and I thank Watford and Tisdale for being a pleasure to watch.

There were some choppy cuts, unexplained moments, and editing choices that I wish had been sucked into the darkness by the Portal. There were moments where it’s painfully obvious the footage from one scene to the next don’t match. Additionally, some key story points felt skipped or glazed over, leaving the audience member to fill in the blanks. Which in some cases is an artistic choice, but that didn’t feel like the case here. Along with plot holes, some of the effects dampened the impact of the acting performances. A creepy black figure zipping across the screen loses its zest after three or four times.

That being said there were several things about the film that I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the music choices in the film. Hats off to Corey Allen Jackson for selecting music that enhanced the film in all the best ways. The best choice was the use of old music as a form of “protection” to Mason. The music is old-timey and wonderful on its own, but because it’s older music it adds an unexplained creep-factor that I just love.

The cinematography had some interesting choices that I was unsure of at first but by the end of the film I was a big fan. About three quarters of the way through the film I realized that I had no concept of the house layout. The way this film was shot I never was able to pick up where things were which added to the anxiety and tension that builds throughout the film. A strong cinematography choice and one that to date, I have never noticed in a film. Additionally the film is shot like an amateur camera crew. Some shots aren’t framed properly or cut off Steven’s (Merriman) head as he is hosting the show. This works in the film’s favor. It makes it feel like an actual reality show being filmed and any frustration I felt at shot choices just enhanced the anxiety already being elicited from the film. One shot I am a fan of involves Mason, a water bottle, and a shadow. I will say no more.

Writer Peter Dukes and writer/director Dean Alioto create a wonderful and original spin on the concept of ghost hunting shows and I appreciate their story thoroughly. Without giving anything away, the camera crew learns the hard way to respect ancient ways they do not understand. Along with original ideas, this duo includes classic horror story telling moments that we all expect and love. For example the classic “horror harbinger” makes an appearance to warn the camera crew that entering the Dalva house would mean their ultimate demise. The entire concept felt a little bit like Knott’s Scary Farms maze “Paranormal Inc.” and I absolutely loved that. Dukes and Alioto combine original ideas and tired and true moments for a product that entertains.

With a little re-working on the story line, I think this film has a ton of potential. And to the casual, non-critical viewer this film may provide a fresh take on a topic once thought to be thoroughly understood. Portal transported me to a land of entertainment under the condition that I suspend my disbelief and let some plot points slide. Ready to be transported yourself? Grab your camcorder and EVP recording device and expect the unexpected because Portal is ready to deliver you to a dimension of surprise and enjoyment.