In the gritty supernatural horror This Way to Hell, a woman’s grief turns into a pact with darkness, unleashing a bloody path of vengeance. Written and directed by Ryan Cavalline, the film introduces Zaila, a mother whose husband and child are murdered in a senseless act of violence. Left for dead, she makes a deal with an unknown demonic entity: her soul in exchange for revenge.
The result is a lean, savage, and unrelenting revenge tale, clocking in at just under 80 minutes. As Zaila hunts down each of her family’s killers, the story quickly descends from gritty realism into supernatural terror. She gains strength, but with each kill, something inside her begins to rot—physically and spiritually. By the time the final act arrives, Zaila is no longer entirely human.
The film’s low-budget roots are evident, but its ambition is clear. The narrative is driven more by emotion and symbolism than by dialogue or visual spectacle. Nikki Carlson delivers a raw, tormented performance as Zaila, effectively balancing pain, fury, and transformation. Her character is the heart of the film—broken, relentless, and ultimately tragic.
While some viewers may find the film’s pacing uneven and its visuals rough around the edges, its brutal honesty and thematic weight stand out. This Way to Hell doesn’t try to be pretty—it wants to burn.
A natural sequel to this story could follow Zaila’s struggle after her revenge is complete. Having paid her debt in blood, she finds herself slipping deeper into possession. The demon she bargained with is not done with her.
This Way Back from Hell would explore the cost of vengeance—not just physically, but spiritually. Zaila, now hunted by both the living and the damned, seeks redemption before her soul is consumed entirely. Her journey might take her into cursed places, forgotten rituals, and confrontations with others who’ve made similar pacts. It’s less about vengeance now, and more about salvation.
Done right, the sequel could evolve the franchise into a dark, mythic series—transforming from simple revenge horror into a more introspective, metaphysical battle between light and shadow.
