Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: DAMNED IF YOU DO [Dances With Films NY - New York, New York]
The aspect of the devil's wishes and how he claims souls has been fodder for different comedies, dramas and satires over the years. "Damned If You Do" focuses on a trio of wannabees who sell off their souls in high school to an overzealous Mephistopheles (played with gusto by "What We Do In The Shadows" alum Harvey Guillen) who simply is out of his mind in this performance. Interestingly enough Guillen seems to be amped up beyond the other cast to a specific decibel level (which makes it kind of uneven). Kate Siegel, who has appeared in many of her husband/director Mike Flanagan's movies, takes on a more comedic role here but definitely with the same edge she always has but not as tight of a script. Siegel is Charlie Hex, a would be rock star who knows the end of the line is coming but has her eyes wide open, along with a couple shots. Paolo Constanzo, who was so great in "Royal Pains", plays a tech bro who made his millions and is coming to the end of the line. Despite wanting to be most empathetic of the bunch, he becomes the most dastardly which is a good progression.
Beth Dover plays Abby, the straight one of the bunch who is the only one that doesn't buy into the shenanigans of the soul sucking despite her best attempts. The film obviously was made on a budget (there really doesn't seem to be enough extras in the reunion scenes). Ginger Golzalga (seen in "She Hulk" and the TV show version of "True Lies") has the most potential of the characters but it only comes to bear a little towards the end. The trick of the story is that the devil needs a clean soul at the end of the night it is due (the night of their 25th High School reunion). This of course permeates all the shenanigans that happen. Of course, this kind of soul stealing (and the odd murders that happen) occur in weirdly blacklit hallways and back alleys which adds to the campiness. The film had the potential to be a "Heathers"/"She Devil" progression but there is simply not enough to go on save for the manic performance by Guillen. However the way the movie starts off in the prologue does set the tone and style of what is to come. The bar is not bad but it is not set very high. The bookends make the viewer want to watch the Mephisto show it alludes to and what comes next especially with the way things turn out. However the genre show the movie presents is simply OK but without a sense of dread or sustained pace per se. C
By Tim Wassberg
