The Condemned

Ana (Cristina Rodlo) is a Mexican heiress bent on honoring the legacy of her father, an internationally renowned doctor whose research in cancer therapies began in the small town of Rosales in Puerto Rico. Ana's rather aggressive plan is to transform the old family home and medical clinic into a museum recalling her father's pioneering work and the children he treated there. But the effort is undercut by gloomy locals, none of whom is happy with Ana or her plans. It turns out that the old-timers have no interest in preserving memories of what seem to be unspeakable matters. Meanwhile, the refurbished mansion appears to be occupied by menacing forces that only grow more violent over time. Co-written and directed by Roberto Busó-García, The Condemned features some strong performances—including René Monclova as an aging assistant who recalls what actually happened in the clinic years before—but as a would-be spooky thriller, never seems to gain any real momentum. Not a necessary purchase. (T. Keogh)