Support Us
Sign Up
Sometimes I think about my high school days and feel like I’m still there. It seems like only a few years have passed, not over a decade. I often reflect on old friendships, adventures, and how I used to write for our high school. In Damned If You Do, directed by Evan Metzold and Jake Rubin and written by Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde, the high school has been over a long time, but our characters have to return for a reunion and something else quite hellish. This clever horror comedy, starring Kate Siegel and Harvey Guillén, along with a stellar supporting cast, is a self-aware, hilarious, and gory flick. It’s not only engaging but also genuinely intriguing, and you’ll have a hell (!) of a time watching it.
Damned if You Do follows a story about a group of friends—Charlie (Kate Siegel), Sigrid (Ginger Gonzaga), Abigail (Beth Dover), and Adam (Paulo Constanzo). Few people know that this group once sold their souls to a demon graciously called Phil (Guillén), except one. As teenagers, Phil granted them anything their hearts desire, but he would come to collect their souls after 25 years. Like typical naïve kids, they think they have “so much time” to live it up. Now, on the eve of their 25th high school reunion, they must reunite to try and escape hell’s grasp before the contract’s deadline expires at midnight.
Horror comedies are often hit or miss, depending on how well the genres balance each other. Damned If You Do is definitely a hit, as the film grips your attention from the start. The ensemble cast is outstanding across the board. The supporting players shine, but Siegel and Guillén absolutely steal the show. As Charlie, a world-famous singer thanks to her deal with Phil, Siegel delivers a powerhouse performance. From her fierce rock-star look to her inner conflicts, she brings Charlie to life with style and depth. Guillén, known for What We Do in the Shadows, is pitch-perfect as Phil, the devilishly charming demon. He’s flamboyant, sparkly, and menacing when he needs to be. With his extravagant fits and plaid obsession, Guillén makes Phil both fabulous and frightening, channeling the same comedic brilliance that made audiences fall for Guillermo.
Dover, Gonzaga, and Costanzo also deliver spunky, memorable performances. Sigrid and Adam are as spoiled as Charlie; Sigrid is a walking case of cognitive dissonance, fighting for the planet while living selfishly, and Adam is a more entitled version reminiscent of an unnamed social media creator (wink wink). Abigail, the moral center of the group, tries to do what’s right, though she too hides her own secrets. Together, the quartet (plus Phil) create a dynamic mix of humor, tension, and biting one-liners. And yes, there’s a killer cameo you’ll absolutely love. The casting of the teenage versions of the main characters is another highlight. Kyra Belle Johnson, Lianah Sta. Ana, Grace Narducci, and Cooper Collins bear uncanny resemblances to their adult counterparts, and each delivers a solid performance.
Damned If You Do also benefits from sharp direction and fresh, inventive writing. The story is entertaining, clever, and often delightfully wild. For a comedy, especially a horror comedy, it offers plenty of gore to satisfy genre enthusiasts. But beyond the blood and laughs, the film carries a deeper message worth pondering. At its core, it’s a bonkers tale about high school friendships and one very fashionable demon, but it’s also layered with meaning. It’s about regrets, secrets, and the unbreakable bonds that tie people together even across time and distance. Most of all, it’s about the choices we make and the consequences that follow.
At one point, Charlie says, “You’re a piece of shit, Adam. But I’m a piece of shit too.” The characters may not be good people, but we still root for them to escape their deal. Damned If You Do illustrates that the choices we make (especially the bad ones) will always follow us, no matter how young we were when we made them. The film reminds us that our decisions impact others, even when we think it’s “just about us.”
In short, you won’t be disappointed watching Damned If You Do. In fact, you’ll want more, and maybe even a rewatch. You might also find yourself coveting Kate Siegel’s pink “Final Girl” tee. But one thing’s for sure: after this movie, you definitely won’t want to make a deal with a demon.
Grade: A
Follow us on MSN for more content like this.
Damned If You Do
A group of teenage friends sell their souls to the devil and life grants them different paths: a rock star, a tech mogul, and a high-profile activist. Years later, they must rely on an old classmate to try and escape Hell's grasp before the contract's deadline of their 25th high school reunion.
Release Date: October 15, 2025
Director: Jake Rubin Evan Metzold
Cast: Kate Siegel , Harvey Guillén ,
