Other than film-maker Martin Grandé, the characters are types: Thomas, a writer; his wife Sofi, who leaves him after he proposes a suicide pact; Birgitta Carolina Søderberg, a teenage prostitute; and Peter, her pimp by whom she has a child that he kills.

The film presents Thomas living the scenario that Grandé and he discussed, a world that is really Hell and ruled by the Devil instead of God.

[1] Producer Lorens Marmstedt agreed to finance the filming of Bergman's experimental screenplay, which the director said was in large part exploring the question, "Is earth Hell?

"[2] Filming, on a very low budget of approximately $30,000, took place over only 18 days,[3] using an Expressionist style of cinematography;[1][2] characterisation is minimal and the acting flat, in keeping with the emphasis on existential symbolism.

[1] Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic wrote- 'The picture is a bit tedious, except for the character of the pimp played by Stig Olin, but it is smoothly made and shows both fluency with the medium and an understanding of actors.