The Condemned

The Condemned

Year: 2013

Language: English

Director: Roberto Bus

Mystery

A former bounty hunter is unwillingly drawn back into a dangerous world when he's forced to compete in the Condemned, a brutal tournament featuring hardened criminals. These convicts fight each other in a televised spectacle designed for global entertainment, creating a high-stakes battle for survival where the consequences are deadly.

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The Condemned (2013) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of The Condemned (2013), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

In a bleak and unforgiving environment, Jack Conrad (played by Ewan McStarley) finds himself languishing on death row in a Salvadoran prison, accepting his grim fate. But his life takes an unexpected turn when a wealthy television producer intervenes, buying his freedom along with nine other condemned criminals from around the globe. These unfortunate souls are transported to a desolate island in the South Pacific, where they are “offered” an opportunity to escape death by engaging in a merciless, high-stakes survival game.

The rules of this dark and twisted contest are straightforward: each contestant is fitted with an ankle bomb, a ticking countdown of 30 hours. The only way to avoid detonation is to eliminate the other participants through combat, with the last person standing earning their freedom and a hefty cash prize. Ian Breckel (character) masterminds this brutal spectacle with the goal of shattering online viewing records, targeting a staggering audience of 40 million, rivaling even the most-watched Super Bowl.

As the horrifying game unfolds, FBI agents begin to uncover Conrad’s true identity as Jack Riley, a former Delta Force operative who had been captured during a covert mission in El Salvador. Unbeknownst to him, his former girlfriend Sarah becomes embroiled in the chaos as she watches the event unfold from her local bar. The contestants on the island quickly turn against one another, with Ewan McStarley and Saiga forming an unlikely alliance to eliminate their foes.

Yet, Conrad operates as a solitary force, determined to survive and uncover the mysteries of his past. He skillfully infiltrates the broadcast tower to convey vital information to Sarah before being forced to withdraw. As the body count rises, Conrad finds himself in a desperate confrontation with McStarley and Saiga. In a brutal clash, Conrad eliminates Saiga with his blade, leaving McStarley to flee arm-in-arm with a shotgun he acquires from a downed helicopter.

Utilizing the terrain to his advantage, Conrad seeks refuge in a stream, hoping to escape. However, McStarley is relentless, murdering the cameraman and an armed guard in a shocking display of brutality. As Conrad’s fate hangs in the balance, the suspense of whether he will prevail or fall victim to the ruthless forces around him intensifies.

In a twist of fate, Conrad and McStarley cross paths again, leading Conrad to make a calculated decision to divert into a treacherous ravine, evading the deadly shots from McStarley’s shotgun. The fall into the tumultuous stream seems to claim Conrad’s life, granting McStarley a hollow victory. However, as McStarley is driven to the control tower to collect his rewards, Breckel surprises him with shocking news: a team of Navy SEALs has been dispatched by the FBI to apprehend him.

Just when the situation escalates, Breckel unveils a sinister twist. Not only did he orchestrate the game from the outset, ensuring McStarley’s apparent victory, but it sends McStarley into a fury. Seizing an MP5 from a guard, he brutally eliminates the tech team, remaining oblivious to their innocence. His attention soon shifts to Julie, Breckel’s girlfriend, only to face a resurrected Conrad.

Their encounter ignites a raw exchange about McStarley’s traumatic past, burdened by memories of violence during his prison time in Africa. Fueled by rage, Conrad exacts his revenge, riddling McStarley with bullets. Taking control of McStarley’s machine guns, he embarks on a pursuit of Breckel, who attempts to escape via helicopter.

Conrad’s relentless chase culminates in a dramatic showdown, as he unleashes a barrage at the helicopter, with Julie hastily handing him McStarley’s reactivated ankle bomb. With keen precision, Conrad hurls the device into the helicopter, where Breckel makes a fatal error. The aircraft crashes into the cliffs, effectively ending Breckel’s merciless schemes.

With the malevolent forces defeated, Conrad returns home to Sarah in Texas, now a free man. Her overwhelming relief at his survival radiates as she warmly welcomes him back into her life, marking the end of this harrowing journey.

Last Updated: November 17, 2024 at 22:26

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Survival Death Games like The Condemned

Characters are forced to fight for their lives in a brutal, orchestrated contest.If you liked the high-stakes, televised violence of The Condemned, you'll find more movies with similar themes here. This list features stories about unwilling combatants forced into brutal tournaments and deadly games where survival is the only prize.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with characters being captured or coerced into a controlled, lethal environment. The plot follows their struggle to survive a series of escalating challenges, often involving direct combat with other participants, while seeking a way to undermine or escape the game's manipulative organizers.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core premise of a structured death game, creating a consistent vibe of high tension, brutal action, and a desperate fight against exploitation. They explore themes of corporate or authoritarian cruelty, the will to survive, and the spectacle of violence.

Dark Action Thrillers with Happy Endings like The Condemned

Stories that navigate through intense darkness but conclude with a clear, positive resolution.For viewers who enjoyed The Condemned's mix of grim atmosphere and ultimately victorious ending, this list features similar movies. These films balance heavy themes and intense action with a conclusive, happy ending that provides relief after a tough journey.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist enduring a profoundly difficult and violent ordeal. Despite facing overwhelming odds and traumatic events, they persevere and ultimately achieve a decisive victory over their oppressors, often returning to a state of peace or freedom, providing a strong sense of catharsis.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique emotional arc: they fully commit to a dark, intense tone throughout most of the runtime but purposely deliver a classic, happy ending. This creates a specific viewer experience of enduring hardship alongside the hero and being rewarded with a clear, positive resolution.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Condemned

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The Condemned Spoiler-Free Summary

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