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Plot Summary

Hell and Back (2015) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 86 min · English
Directed by
Ross Shuman, Tom Gianas

Two close friends venture into the underworld on a hilarious and perilous mission to save their companion, who has fallen into eternal damnation. Along the way, they enlist the aid of eccentric underworld characters, facing dangerous landscapes and outsmarting the devilish plans of Bob Odenkirk, all while desperately trying to retrieve their friend from the depths of hell.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Hell and Back
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Hell and Back (2015)

Where can you watch Hell and Back? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Plex: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Hell and Back: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Hell and Back (2015) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Idealist Remy is on a relentless quest to breathe new life into the struggling pier carnival where he and his childhood companions, the quirky and portly repairman Augie, and their indifferent assistant manager Curt Myers, work. With the business dwindling and the looming threat of foreclosure from the bank, Remy seeks the insight of a mystical fortune-teller named Madame Zonar. She hands him a mysterious tome featuring a page that depicts the Devil's anguished tears. Convinced that this seemingly cursed artifact harbors the key to their salvation, Remy decides to display it at The Gates of Hell attraction.

Tensions escalate as Curt asks Remy for a rare mint, but Remy demands a blood oath as collateral. When Curt unapologetically reveals he doesn't have the mint, Remy’s anger boils over, which prompts Augie to witness a foreboding omen of doom. Suddenly, Curt is sucked into a portal inside the ride, forcing Remy and Augie to commandeer a vehicle from the attraction and plunge into the swirling abyss after him.

Their bizarre adventure leads them directly to Hell, where they are confronted by demons and ultimately brought before the Devil himself. As he ponders their torturous fate, he mentions the legendary Orpheus, famed for his remarkable ability to rescue souls from the underworld. The Devil's scheme is interrupted when an angelic figure, Barb, arrives. In a desperate bid to win her over, he plans to use Remy and Augie as sacrifices. However, they cleverly manage to escape capture with assistance from a mysterious female demon named Deema, who seems to have taken a liking to Augie.

Meanwhile, Curt finds himself in the clutches of the Devil and surprisingly forms a connection with his host, until he learns of his horrifying fate as part of a ritualistic sacrifice. In a twist, he proposes an alternative that involves putting on a show to win Barb's favor and take his place as the offering. As they traverse the labyrinth toward Orpheus, Remy, Augie, and Deema encounter Durmessa, Deema's imposing mother, who warns them that Orpheus is not the savior they hope for. Undeterred, they commandeer a submarine to breach the defenses and finally meet Orpheus, who turns out to be a laid-back slacker indulging in romantic escapades rather than fulfilling his heroic duties. Deema, infuriated by Orpheus's indifference, leaves with Augie, abandoning Remy to his self-serving ways. Amidst the chaotic scenes involving Charon’s ferry, a budding romance flares up between Deema and Augie, but they soon learn via the Devil's cellphone that Curt is in grave danger of being sacrificed at the crossroads, leading them to rush to save him.

As Remy discovers Curt's location through Orpheus's television, he sets off on a mission to reunite with his friends and repair their fractured bonds while aboard a boat bound for Purgatory. With no backup plan in sight, the Devil retracts his promise to Curt, preparing to execute his sacrifice. In a brief moment of clarity, Remy, Augie, and Deema manage to evade the demonic guards and reunite with Curt, only to find themselves ensnared by the sinister forces and the Devil, who intends to sacrifice all of them.

When Orpheus, attempting to rescue his friends by masquerading as the leader of a demon band, is captured, the plot thickens. However, he captures Barb's attention with his soulful performance, prompting her descent into Hell through a stripper’s pole, where she becomes enamored with him. Consumed by jealousy, the Devil launches a bazooka cannon filled with T-shirts at Orpheus, unwittingly knocking Barb out as she tries to help the group. Though they manage to survive the tumultuous fall, they find themselves trapped in the depths of Hell, surrounded by twisted trees representing tormenting memories, including one that had tormented Orpheus in his childhood. Touched by the tree's sincere apology, Orpheus agrees to forgive it on one condition: that it take revenge on the Devil instead.

As Remy, Augie, Curt, and Deema become entangled in the branches of these sinister trees, a pivotal moment occurs when Curt, suspended upside down like a grotesque puppet, discreetly drops a mint onto Remy's face. Initially shocked by this covert act, Remy discovers that consuming the mint would fulfill the blood oath, allowing their souls to escape the infernal grasp and return to the mortal realm along with Deema. Despite the Devil and his minions’ attempts to thwart their escape, Remy’s unyielding determination and the group's collective strength ultimately overcome the challenges they face.

Upon their return to the living world, the group is elated to find that Remy’s efforts to save the park were not in vain. Flash forward six months, they revisit the now transformed park, enriched with attractions inspired by their astounding experiences in Hell. Among these is the "Gates of Heaven" exhibit, showcasing Orpheus and Barb as central figures.

As the credits roll, a darkly comic morality play unfolds, featuring a lost soul condemned to wander the underworld who attempts to place an order at Pizza Hut, only to be endlessly misdirected by a gleeful demon reveling in his victim’s eternal suffering with the haunting line: > "Welcome to Hell." This eerie jest serves as a chilling reminder of the group's own narrow escape from the clutches of damnation.

Last updated: November 19, 2024 at 11:31

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Plot questions answered

Hell and Back Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Hell and Back (2015): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Remy demand a blood oath from Curt for the mint?

Remy demands a blood oath because he's desperate to save the failing pier carnival and has become increasingly irrational under pressure. When Curt admits he doesn't have the rare mint he promised, Remy's frustration boils over, leading him to demand this extreme collateral. The blood oath later becomes significant because consuming the mint fulfills the oath, allowing their souls to escape Hell.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Augie witnesses a foreboding omen of doom right as the tensions between Remy and Curt escalate.

  • remy
  • curt
  • blood oath
  • mint
  • carnival
Q2

How does Curt get pulled into Hell?

Curt is suddenly sucked into a portal inside The Gates of Hell attraction while Remy and Augie watch in horror. The portal appears without warning, likely triggered by the cursed tome Remy displayed there, which depicted the Devil's anguished tears. This event sets the entire rescue mission in motion.

Foreshadowing: The ominous signs and foreboding omen that Augie witnesses signal that something terrible is about to happen.

  • curt
  • portal
  • hell
  • gates of hell attraction
Q3

Why does the Devil mention Orpheus to Remy and Augie?

The Devil mentions Orpheus as a form of psychological torment. Knowing their desperate situation, he casually references the legendary figure who famously rescued souls from the underworld, hinting at a possible escape while simultaneously making their doomed fate seem even more cruel. This reference becomes a plot point as the group later seeks Orpheus out.

Foreshadowing: The Devil's mention plants the idea of seeking Orpheus, which drives much of the story's second half.

  • devil
  • orpheus
  • underworld
  • rescue
Q4

Why does the demon Deema help Remy and Augie escape?

Deema helps Remy and Augie because she's grown disillusioned with the Devil's schemes and takes a romantic interest in Augie. Her defection from the Devil's plans provides crucial assistance to the protagonists, and she ultimately joins their quest to rescue Curt. The budding romance between Deema and Augie becomes a significant subplot throughout their journey.

Foreshadowing: Deema's intervention happens exactly as the Devil plans to sacrifice Remy and Augie, suggesting her dissatisfaction with his cruelty.

  • deema
  • demon
  • augie
  • escape
  • devil
Q5

Why is Orpheus not the hero Remy and Augie hoped for?

Orpheus turns out to be a laid-back slacker more interested in romantic escapades than fulfilling his heroic duties as the legendary rescuer of souls. When they finally reach him, he's indifferent to their plight and unwilling to help. This subverts the mythological expectation and forces the group to rely on their own resourcefulness.

Foreshadowing: Durmessa, Deema's mother, explicitly warns them that Orpheus is not the savior they hope for before they even reach him.

  • orpheus
  • hero
  • savior
  • legend
Q6

What is the significance of the mint Curt drops to Remy?

The mint is the key to fulfilling the blood oath Remy demanded from Curt. When Curt drops the mint onto Remy's face while they're both trapped upside down in the twisted trees, Remy realizes that consuming the mint will complete the oath. This technicality allows their souls to escape the infernal grasp and return to the mortal realm, making it the crucial element that enables their escape.

Foreshadowing: The entire blood oath subplot established earlier pays off in this moment, as the mint represents the fulfillment of that binding promise.

  • mint
  • blood oath
  • escape
  • souls
Q7

What do the twisted trees in Hell represent?

The twisted trees in Hell's depths represent the most haunting and tormenting memories of those trapped there. Each tree contains a painful memory that torments the individual. For Orpheus, there's a childhood trauma tree that he must confront. The trees literally entrap Remy, Augie, Curt, and Deema, forcing them to face their psychological burdens.

Foreshadowing: The narrative hints at the psychological nature of Hell's punishment through these memory-based torment trees.

  • twisted trees
  • memories
  • hell
  • torment
Q8

Why does Barb descend from Heaven?

Barb is an angel who descends from Heaven after being captivated by Orpheus's musical performance when he disguises himself as a demon band leader. She falls in love with him and uses a stripper's pole to descend into Hell, becoming enamored with Orpheus. This subplot complicates the escape attempt and creates jealousy in the Devil, who was trying to win her favor.

Foreshadowing: The Devil's earlier plan to use Remy and Augie as sacrifices to win Barb over establishes her importance to his schemes.

  • barb
  • angel
  • heaven
  • orpheus
Q9

Why does the Devil want to sacrifice Remy and his friends?

The Devil initially plans to sacrifice Remy and Augie to impress Barb, an angel he's trying to win over. When Curt learns of his fate as part of a ritualistic sacrifice, he proposes an alternative: putting on a show to win Barb's favor and take his place as the offering. The Devil ultimately retracts his promise to Curt and attempts to sacrifice all of them when his plans unravel.

Foreshadowing: The Devil's obsession with Barb is established early when he considers using the protagonists as sacrifices to impress her.

  • devil
  • sacrifice
  • barb
  • ritual
Q10

What is the Pizza Hut scene in the post-credits?

The post-credits scene features a lost soul in Hell who attempts to place a Pizza Hut order, only to be endlessly misdirected by a gleeful demon who revels in his victim's eternal suffering. The demon repeatedly sends him the wrong way while gleefully saying "Welcome to Hell." This darkly comic moment serves as a ironic reminder of the main characters' narrow escape from damnation.

Foreshadowing: The scene bookends the film's thematic focus on the absurdity of Hell's torments, consistent with the movie's whimsical tone.

  • pizza hut
  • post credits
  • end scene
  • hell

Movie threads

More Movies Like Hell and Back, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Hell and Back tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Absurdist Underworld Adventures like Hell and Back

Hilarious quests through fantastical realms where nothing is sacred. If you enjoyed the irreverent take on the underworld in Hell and Back, you'll like these movies. This list features films with similar comedic journeys through fantastical realms, blending adventure, absurd humor, and chaotic quests for movies like Hell and Back.

  • absurdist
  • adventurous
  • comedic
  • parodic
  • chaotic
  • playful
  • Tone: whimsical, irreverent
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a group or individual on a high-stakes quest through a bizarre, rule-bending world. The journey is filled with absurd encounters, parody of serious tropes, and a series of escalating comedic obstacles that test the protagonists' wit and loyalty, usually culminating in a triumphant success.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to whimsical world-building, rapid-fire absurdist humor, and the core premise of a perilous but hilarious journey through a fantastical landscape, treating danger as a source of comedy rather than genuine horror.

Comedic Friendship Rescue Missions like Hell and Back

Bonds of friendship are tested in a fast-paced, comedic race against time. For fans of the loyal friendship dynamic in Hell and Back, this section highlights movies with similar chaotic rescue missions. Discover films where comedic trios face absurd odds to save a friend, offering a similar vibe of lighthearted adventure and loyal camaraderie.

  • comedic
  • adventurous
  • playful
  • loyalty
  • chaotic
  • friendship
  • Tone: playful, comedic
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is propelled by a friend in peril, prompting the remaining group to venture into unfamiliar or dangerous territory. The narrative is less about the destination and more about the comedic misadventures and bonding moments along the way, reinforcing the theme that friendship can conquer even the most ludicrous challenges.

Why they belong together: These films share a core emotional anchor of loyal friendship tested by a chaotic, high-concept scenario. They blend a light emotional weight with fast-paced action and comedy, creating a specific vibe where the stakes feel real but the journey is consistently fun.

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Movies Like Hell and Back

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Every angle

Hell and Back (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Hell and Back in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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