What's the best way to create a mask to reveal things behind an object?

What’s the best way to create like a layer mask so as the hand moves up I can slowly reveal a portal opening from the bottom of the door to the top of the door as the hand moves?

a holdout mask with transaprency

So I add an object in front of the door with the holdout shader and have the object expand upwards? Is there a way to make the object with the holdout shader only make specific objects behind it transparent?

No, there is no way to do that.