Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- raunchy
- irreverent
- grotesque
- dark comedy night
- adult animation marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the humor unsuccessful and excessively offensive, while recognizing the craftsmanship of the stop-motion animation.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film's stop-motion animation is its defining formal feature, especially in the carnival and Hell environments.
The plot and critical reception emphasize vulgar humor, including an extended male rape gag.
Remy and Augie travel into Hell to rescue Curt from demons, Greek legends, and the Devil.
The lifelong friends' joking blood oath directly triggers Curt's abduction and the rescue quest.
Films like Hell and Back, and why
The Nightmare Before Christmas
adult stop-motion comedy, vulgar irreverence, and grotesque supernatural fantasy
Sausage Party
raunchy adult animation, demonic imagery, and deliberately offensive comedy
Corpse Bride
macabre stop-motion fantasy, dark humor, and stylized underworld imagery
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto
adult animated horror comedy built around supernatural peril and vulgar humor
Movie Details
- Directors
- Tom Gianas, Ross Shuman
- Release Date
- 2015-10-02
- Runtime
- 86 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (219)
Cast
- Nick Swardson
- T.J. Miller
- Mila Kunis
- Bob Odenkirk
- Susan Sarandon
- Danny McBride
- Rob Riggle
- Jennifer Coolidge
- Michael Peña
- Kumail Nanjiani
Common questions
- What is Hell and Back about?
- Three lifelong carnival friends plunge into a vulgar stop-motion Hell to rescue the companion claimed by a broken blood oath.
- What is Hell and Back like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hell and Back as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Hell and Back violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Hell and Back as moderate.
- What did critics think of Hell and Back?
- Critics broadly found the humor unsuccessful and excessively offensive, while recognizing the craftsmanship of the stop-motion animation.
- Which films are like Hell and Back?
- Films with a similar feel include The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sausage Party, Corpse Bride, and The Haunted World of El Superbeasto.
- How long is Hell and Back?
- Hell and Back runs 86 minutes.
