Damned If You Do
Directors: Jake Rubin and Evan Metzold
Writers: Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde
Cast: Kate Siegel, Harvey Guillén, Molly Bernard, Ginger Gonzaga, Paulo Costanzo, Beth Dover, Ed Weeks and Michael Flanagan
World Premiere: Screamfest 2025, Wednesday, October 15, TCL Chinese 6 Theatres
The consequences of youthful ambition can often lead to lifelong chaos. That’s certainly true for the protagonists of the new supernatural horror comedy ‘Damned If You Do.’ They’re horrified to realize that their prosperity comes with one enormous catch: Hell will eventually come calling for them.
First-time screenwriters Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde penned the script for the film. ‘Damned If You Do’ marks the feature directorial debut of Evan Metzold and Jake Rubin.
The movie stars Kate Siegel, Harvey Guillén, Molly Bernard, Ginger Gonzaga, Paulo Costanzo, Beth Dover and Ed Weeks. The horror comedy also stars Siegel’s husband and frequent collaborator, celebrated genre veteran Michael Flanagan, who’s directing the next entry in ‘The Exorcist’ franchise.
‘Damned If You Do’ had its world premiere on Wednesday, October 15 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The film’s premiere was held during Screamfest 2025.
In ‘Damned If You Do,’ a group of teenage friends made a decision 25 years ago that would follow them into adulthood. They sold their souls to the devil, seemingly securing their futures in exchange for their freedom. In the decades that followed, each friend carved out a remarkably different life.
One becomes a rock star, another rose to the top of the technology world and another became a prominent activist with considerable public influence. Yet beneath their success is the knowledge that their bargain has an expiration date. As the deadline approaches, their carefully constructed lives begin to unravel.
Their 25th high school reunion consequently becomes far more than an awkward trip down memory lane. It turns into a race against time as the friends search for a way out of their supernatural contract. Their desperate plan also brings them back into contact with an old classmate, forcing them to revisit relationships and choices they might have preferred to leave in the past.
The premise gives the movie a strong foundation for exploring the uneasy relationship between youthful ambition and adult regret. Its supernatural stakes are inherently absurd, but the characters remain grounded enough to make their predicament entertaining. The result is a story in which the threat of eternal damnation becomes an excuse to examine old friendships, unfinished business and the lives people build after leaving their teenage years behind.
Much of the horror comedy’s charm comes from its ensemble. The cast shares an easy chemistry, and their contrasting personalities create plenty of opportunities for bickering, unexpected alliances and comic friction. Siegel anchors the group with a confident and engaging performance. Meanwhile, Guillén brings his distinctive comedic timing and infectious energy to the supernatural proceedings. Bernard and Gonzaga add equally memorable personalities as the situation grows increasingly chaotic.
Costanzo, Dove, and Weeks contribute additional comedic energy. The cast also has great chemistry with Flanagan, who rounds out an ensemble that clearly understands the tone of the material. The performances thrive because the actors fully commit to the film’s heightened sensibility without losing sight of the relationships at its center.
‘Damned If You Do’ also benefits from brisk pacing and energetic editing. Scenes move quickly, allowing the comedy to maintain its momentum without letting the central premise become repetitive. The editing gives the movie a playful rhythm that complements its campy tone, while the jokes generally arrive without overwhelming the character moments.
That sense of momentum becomes particularly effective as the characters race toward their contractual deadline. The supernatural threat remains a consistent source of tension, but the film never allows it to overwhelm the comedy. Instead, it embraces the absurdity of its premise and finds humor in just how ridiculous the characters’ predicament becomes.
The feature’s willingness to embrace camp is ultimately one of its defining qualities. The movie emphasizes its supernatural premise, exaggerated characters and deliberately over-the-top situations. It understands that horror comedy works best when everyone involved commits fully to the tone.
Beneath the supernatural bargain, however, are themes that give the story a little more substance. The characters have spent decades building successful lives, only to discover that the choices they made as teenagers still have consequences. Their predicament becomes a playful way of exploring friendship, ambition, regret, aging and the uncomfortable realization that success doesn’t necessarily mean escaping the past.
The horror elements complement the comedy without overpowering it. There is enough supernatural tension to give the story stakes, but the film remains primarily interested in having fun with its premise. Its greatest strength is that it understands the fundamental appeal of horror comedy: the more seriously the characters take their impossible situation, the more entertaining the surrounding chaos can become.
With an appealing ensemble, an imaginative supernatural premise and a consistently playful tone, ‘Damned If You Do’ makes for an entertaining genre outing. Metzold and Rubin deliver an energetic feature debut, while Adair and Gilde’s screenplay provides the cast with plenty of room to play.
The brisk pacing keeps the story from dragging, and the lively ensemble gives the film much of its personality. More importantly, the movie knows exactly what it wants to be: it’s a campy supernatural comedy about old friends, bad decisions and the consequences that refuse to stay buried, and it has considerable fun with all three.
Technical: B+
Acting: A-
Story: B+
Overall: B+
