The Vortex
November 5th, 2025
MOVIE: THE VORTEX
STARRING: BILLY GARDELL, JAINA LEE ORTIZ, CHRISTOPHER TITUS, EMILY ALABI
DIRECTED BY: RICHARD ZELNIKER
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 83 MINUTES
Being open to watching just about any movie is a philosophy I live by. It’s an approach that often leads to unexpected discoveries. The Vortex is one of those surprises. An independent production that would have otherwise flown completely under the radar. Set in 1980 Las Vegas, this chamber piece centers on a comedian spending the night at a video poker machine, engaging in conversations with a revolving cast of characters. With a strong lead performance and sharply structured dialogue, The Vortex manages to make its gamble pay off.
The film’s protagonist, Pete (played by Mike & Molly star Billy Gardell), is a local stand-up comic who’s been around long enough that the MGM Grand staff know him by name. Early on, we learn from a tense exchange with his manager that Pete has a serious gambling problem and owes money to some dangerous people. Hoping to dig himself out of debt, he takes one more shot at a big win at the video poker machine.
As Pete plays, he’s visited by a steady stream of characters: Ginny (Jaina Lee Ortiz), a fellow performer and possible love interest; Jackie (Emily Alabi), a mystical-minded server convinced he’s destined for a lucky night; and Jimmy (Christopher Titus), a mobster looking to collect on Pete’s overdue payment. What begins as a night of routine gambling turns increasingly tense as Pete’s money dwindles and his chances of redemption slip away.
The story unfolds through brief, revealing conversations, each adding layers to the characters and their circumstances. The screenplay- co-written by Steven Barr and director Richard Zelniker- balances humor, emotion, and the screwball energy of 1980s casino life. Structurally, it holds together well, though whether it sustains the viewer’s attention depends on one’s appetite for character-driven storytelling over plot momentum.
Zelniker sets the film on the day of the tragic MGM Grand fire, which claimed 85 lives, a creative choice that seems designed to underscore the film’s meditation on luck and fate. One can lose everything, strike it rich, or simply be in the wrong place at the wrong time. While the theme is compelling, those ideas don’t always connect organically within the narrative.
As an independent production, The Vortex makes the most of its limited resources, featuring a cast that exceeds expectations and a director with a clear independent spirit. Though it may not be consistently thrilling or profoundly thought-provoking, it’s an earnest and well-crafted effort anchored by Billy Gardell’s warm, grounded performance. The Vortex may not hit the jackpot, but it plays with a winner’s heart.
2 ½ STARS
THE VORTEX IS NOW AVAILABLE TO WATCH ON TUBI AND AVAILABLE TO RENT ON APPLE TV OR OTHER STREAMING PLATFORMS.
Written by: Leo Brady
