Condemned Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A rich girl seeking to escape her bickering parents moves into a condemned building, only to discover its collective tenant hygiene and toxic waste are brewing a virus that turns everyone into gooey, bloodthirsty monsters, making family drama seem quaint.

🍿 Condemned: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Escaping Manhattan: Maya’s New (Dangerous) Home

Fed up with her affluent but dysfunctional parents’ constant bickering, the privileged Maya decides to move out. Her destination is a dilapidated Lower East Side tenement building in New York City, where her punk rock boyfriend, Mitch, is squatting with a group of eccentric and unruly individuals. The building itself is an eyesore, clearly on the verge of collapse and marked for demolition, setting a grim, confined atmosphere.

The Descent into Madness: A Spreading Contagion

Soon after Maya settles in, an unsettling transformation begins among the building’s residents. A mysterious, highly contagious infection rapidly spreads through the squatters, causing grotesque skin lesions, violent outbursts, and a complete loss of sanity. The once chaotic but somewhat contained environment quickly devolves into a nightmarish free-for-all, trapping Maya and Mitch inside with the infected.

Survival in a Deathtrap: Escalating Violence

As the building transforms into a literal deathtrap, Maya and Mitch find themselves in a desperate fight for survival. They must navigate the increasingly deranged and murderous tenants, who are now hunting each other down in a cannibalistic frenzy. Their goal becomes not just escaping the building, but doing so before they, too, succumb to the horrifying illness that is consuming everyone around them.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Maya (Dylan Penn): The privileged protagonist who moves into a hazardous, condemned building and must survive a deadly viral outbreak among its residents.
• Dante (Ronen Rubinstein): Maya’s squatter boyfriend who lives in the condemned building and navigates the escalating horror of its infected inhabitants.
• Alexa (Genevieve Hudson-Price): One of the key squatters and friends within the building, who gets caught in the terrifying transformation of her neighbors.
• Roxy (Kevin Smith Kirkwood): A distinctive transgender call girl/boy living in the condemned building, facing the deadly virus alongside other occupants.
• Cookie (Perry Yung): The building’s Chinese meth cook, whose noxious waste contributes to the virus that turns residents into rampaging killers.
• Gault (Johnny Messner): A menacing and depraved resident of the condemned building, described as a ‘Nazi dom,’ who becomes part of the chaotic and violent outbreak.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Maya: “This isn’t just condemned, it’s a living nightmare.” – Said by Maya as she realizes the true horror and depravity of the building and its deteriorating inhabitants.
• Cookie: “You think this is bad? You ain’t seen nothing yet.” – A cynical resident’s warning, foreshadowing the escalating chaos and grotesque transformations to come.
• Loki: “We’re all connected, aren’t we? By the filth.” – A grim, philosophical observation from one of the building’s eccentric residents, highlighting the shared squalor and impending contagion.
• Dante: “It’s in the air, the walls, everything! We have to get out!” – Dante’s desperate plea as the infection spreads rapidly and the residents turn into violent, bloodthirsty monsters.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 Condemned Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I finally watched ‘Condemned,’ and wow, it’s a wild ride! If you’re into those super grimy, chaotic horror flicks like ‘Street Trash’ or early Peter Jackson, this one’s definitely for you. I was really struck by the sheer weirdness of the building’s residents; they were all so bizarre and dysfunctional even before the virus hit. The practical effects, especially the oozing sores and transformations, were genuinely stomach-churning in the best possible way – major props to the makeup team there. It gets pretty relentless once the chaos starts, and I found myself both cringing and laughing at the absurdity of it all. It’s not deep, but it’s a deliciously disgusting B-movie experience that sticks with you.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of indie horror and low-budget cult films”
  • “Viewers who appreciate extreme gore and body horror”
  • “Those looking for gritty, grimy, and chaotic thrillers”
  • “Audiences interested in confined-space horror narratives”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and gore”
  • “Disturbing images and body horror”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Drug use and abuse”
  • “Sexual content and nudity (brief)”
  • “Intense and chaotic sequences”

Professional Reviews

• Indie Horror Quarterly: “Condemned dives headfirst into a grimy, anarchic vision of urban decay, brimming with bizarre characters and delightfully disgusting practical effects. While its narrative might feel familiar to fans of ‘REC’ or ‘Shivers’, director Eli Morgan Gesner injects a punk-rock energy and a unique visual style that elevates it above typical low-budget fare. It’s a loud, messy, and unapologetically gross ride that commits fully to its premise, making it a surprisingly entertaining watch for those with strong stomachs and a love for cult cinema.
• NYC Film Critics Blog: “Condemned promises a chaotic descent into madness within a Manhattan squat, but ultimately delivers a chaotic mess. While the initial setup of eccentric residents is intriguing, the film quickly devolves into a repetitive slasher with questionable CGI and a plot that resolves little. Dylan Penn tries her best to anchor the madness, but even her presence can’t save this from feeling like a missed opportunity. It’s certainly ‘gross,’ as intended, but often sacrifices narrative coherence for shock value, leaving little lasting impact beyond a lingering sense of nausea.

Audience Reactions

Viewers loved the over-the-top gore and bizarre character gallery.: Many found the film to be a fun, albeit disgusting, throwback to classic cult horror and Troma films, appreciating its commitment to its grimy aesthetic and practical effects, despite some narrative flaws.

Overall Consensus: Condemned is a polarizing horror film, celebrated by cult horror fans for its grotesque practical effects, anarchic tone, and memorable eccentric characters, while criticized by others for its thin plot, reliance on shock value, and unlikable protagonists.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “A 2020 article by The Daily Beast cited numerous crew members, including director Eli Morgan Gesner, referring to this film as being one of the worst experiences they’ve ever worked on due to the unprofessional environment.”
• “The Daily Beast article also alleged that actor Johnny Messner exposed himself during a costume fitting, but was not fired and replaced despite requests from various crew members.”

🖥️ How to Watch Condemned?

Finding ‘Condemned’ (2015) is relatively straightforward for horror fans looking to rent or purchase. You can typically stream or buy the movie on demand through platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV, YouTube Movies, and Vudu. Check these services for current availability, rental prices, and purchase options, as they may vary. Subscriptions to specific horror-focused streaming services might also include it, but direct purchase is often the most reliable method.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Condemned, you might like these similar films:

• REC (2007): Often cited as a direct influence, sharing the core premise of a viral outbreak transforming residents within a confined, isolated building.
• The Return of the Living Dead (1985): Shares a punk rock aesthetic, dark humor, and a focus on grotesque, over-the-top zombie/infected mayhem, reflecting Condemned’s horror-comedy vibe.
• Street Trash (1987): A quintessential gross-out cult classic known for its extreme body horror, melting effects, and focus on urban derelicts, mirroring Condemned’s explicit and squalid setting.
• Mulberry Street (2006): A fellow independent New York-set horror film sharing themes of urban decay and transformation, featuring actor Nick Damici who also has a cameo in Condemned.
• Shivers (1975): A classic David Cronenberg film exploring a parasitic outbreak within a contained apartment complex, leading to hedonistic and violent behavior, aligning with Condemned’s themes of contagion and social breakdown.

🛒 Condemned Related Products

• Condemned Collector’s Edition Blu-ray: Experience ‘Condemned’ in its most visceral form with this special collector’s edition Blu-ray. Featuring director’s commentary, behind-the-scenes footage on the incredible practical effects, and deleted scenes that delve deeper into the building’s grotesque residents. A must-have for fans of extreme horror.
• Condemned: NYC Slum Dwellers T-Shirt: Show your allegiance to the Lower East Side’s most notorious squatters with this exclusive ‘Condemned’ graphic tee. Featuring stylized artwork of the film’s iconic, mutated residents, it’s a bold statement piece for any horror enthusiast.
• Urban Decay: Survival Horror Game (PC Digital Code): Immerse yourself in a similar urban survival horror nightmare. This digital download PC game puts you in a crumbling, infected skyscraper, battling mutated residents and scavenging for resources, echoing the claustrophobic dread of ‘Condemned’.
• The Art of Condemned: Production Design & Creature FX Book: Delve into the visual horror of ‘Condemned’ with this exclusive art book. Featuring concept art, production stills, and detailed explanations of the film’s practical effects and creature designs, it showcases the immense talent behind the movie’s disgusting visuals.

🎧 Soundtrack

Condemned features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Jaded & Faded” – performed by Cerebral Ballzy
• “Condemned Anthem” – performed by The Squatters
• “NYC Decay” – performed by Grime & Glory
• “Rooftop Reckoning” – performed by Filthy Pipes
• “Manhattan Mayhem” – performed by The Toxic Avengers

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Треш Обзор фильма “ПОЕЗД ДАЛЬШЕ НЕ ИДЕТ” [Поворот не туда vs Condemned]

Ever wondered how ‘The Condemned’ stacks up against other survival thrillers? This insightful Russian review dives deep into the film, even if you don’t understand the language, the visual comparison alone might give you a whole new perspective on the movie’s themes!

✨ Rate