Stunning Portal fan-film is sweeter, sadder, and funnier than a box of depressed unicorns. Watch immediately

The best thing you'll watch all day. Fact

Words: David Houghton on May 31, 2011

Sorry Hollywood, it was nice while it lasted. If you need any more evidence of the dwindling nature of mainstream cinema's ability to pump out genuine audio-visual wonders, just take a look at Outside Aperture, the new short film from Eisen Feuer. Clever, beautiful, inventive, and stacked with pathos, it's an effortless little gem that manages to convey years-worth of story and character development using barely a single line of dialogue. It's utterly wonderful in itself, telling a delicately-metered (pre-Portal 2) account of Chell's life outside the facility following the first game. Watch it, love it. But then compare it to what a big studio adaptation of Portal would inevitably become. Compare, shudder, and hug this wonderful little film all the more.

*sniff*

May 31, 2011

GLaDOS should be the voice of EVERY computer

Latest Portal: Still Alive - Xbox Live Arcade Screenshots

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Platforms:

Xbox 360, PS3, PC

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Tymiegie - June 2, 2011 6:12 a.m.

That was really quite fantastic.
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lovinmyps3 - June 1, 2011 9:41 p.m.

That was charming.
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Bantha_Fodder - June 1, 2011 8:07 p.m.

this was a pretty nice little film :) but I gotta say, I would LOVE it if Valve released something (whether it's a video or a comic or whatever) showing what happens after Portal 2...
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MySistersMenstruationTastesFunny - June 1, 2011 6 p.m.

Meh, unimpressed.
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InFeRnOg - June 1, 2011 5:46 p.m.

I guess I'm one of the only ones who didn't like this. Portal 1 was underwhelming given all the hype; Portal 2 was at least funny but in the first one I had no emotional connection whatsoever particularly since it takes like an hour and 45 minutes to beat it first time.
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ensabahnur - June 1, 2011 5:39 p.m.

Great video, i need more Valve videos, even left 4 dead (that might just be the walking dead)
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Carlovic - June 1, 2011 2:54 p.m.

Wow, it almost brings a tear to my eye. More please, MORE!!!!!!!
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rabidpotatochip - June 1, 2011 1:23 p.m.

This was a really interesting movie, definitely one to download and watch again at higher res. I liked how Chell was kind of messed up after her whole Aperature experience, it just worked.
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ashton - June 1, 2011 4:33 a.m.

Damn Why is this so freakin sad but Funny at the same time "damn you salt container" lol Really any thing related to the Aperture test subj and how they lived while hiding from Glados( in which case the rat man dens are really touching in portal 2) will always touch you heart... ALWAYS!!
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Crimmy - June 1, 2011 12:42 a.m.

This is the definition of awesome.
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marcBRO - May 31, 2011 11:21 p.m.

just saying, she touched the operational end of the device. You are not supposed to do that.
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mockraven - May 31, 2011 11:05 p.m.

I absolutely loved the movie. This felt very Portal-ish in how Chell never spoke, how everything was understated yet still highly detailed, the open & clean spaces, and even the look of Chell. I also liked how the director went into why the cake was important, how Chell's constant use of the portal gun to solve *everything* within Aprature's laboratories bled into her everyday post-escape life. There were so many nuances that just breathed life into the story in the same way that Valve has brought the story into its beloved puzzle game. The actress was amazing in portraying emotion using her posture and facial expressions without being over-theatrical. I loved the pacing, the lighting, the setting, everything. This was a fantastic indie film! Kudos to the creators. :)
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CoryM1134 - May 31, 2011 11:02 p.m.

That Portal gun is super well made. I'd love to have it on my wall.
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EnragedTortoise1 - May 31, 2011 10:32 p.m.

You guys, it says in the annotations that this movie is based on the original ending to Portal 1, the one without her being dragged back in. So this is technically non-canon, but who cares? It's amazing!
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D0CCON - May 31, 2011 9:55 p.m.

Everyone look at the very beginning of the video. It flat out says "based on the original ending of Portal." Portal 2 doesn't factor into it. BTW, I never thought about how awesome a Portal gun could be for getting a back scratch.
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Hamburgers - May 31, 2011 9:28 p.m.

Once again you've proved you're lack of credibility gamers. It was an all right short film beleagured with a plethora Portal references. I guess you're all the same people who somehow managed tears when Aerith died if you hadn't already fallen asleep at that point.
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Bossco - May 31, 2011 9:08 p.m.

Clearly a labour of love.
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SubBoss1993 - May 31, 2011 9:03 p.m.

Absolutely wonderful in its simplicity and elegance. Chell's actress managed to convey her slightly unhinged and obsessive post-Aperture personality without ever speaking a word. Well done, guys, well done.
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sebastianhamilton - May 31, 2011 8:27 p.m.

I think i might be hearing things but in the Ratman den in chapter 2, advanced Ariel Faith plates. You can hear voices through the music when you stand on the left of the mural. I know most of the secrets of this game are found i just thought this was interesting cause u cant here it anywhere else in that room.
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bamtan - May 31, 2011 7:29 p.m.

WHEN SHE WAS FILLING IN THE FORM AT THE BEGINNING SHE WROTE JOHNSON AS HER LAST NAME JOHNSON
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