Untamed
Set within California’s picturesque Yosemite National Park, Netflix’s latest thriller, Untamed, opens with two climbers scaling El Capitan when the corpse of a young girl plummets from the cliff and gets tangled in their rope, almost taking the climbers with her. It’s an attention-grabbing sequence that carries the same palm-sweating levels of tension as Free Solo. There are other dramatic moments scattered throughout the subsequent investigation. However, none are able to make as strong of an impression. Rather, this Netflix show is a slower-paced watch with just enough interesting plot developments to keep things moving.
Eric Bana plays Kyle Turner, the gruff ISB agent who’s put in charge of the case. Scarred by a family tragedy and preferring the company of animals to people, he’s the archetypal outdoorsman. He’s joined by Vasquez (Lilly Santiago), a former LA cop who’s recently been transferred to work as a park ranger. Both actors give solid performances and work well enough together on screen. Sam Neill and Rosemarie DeWitt likewise give strong turns as Kyle’s boss and ex-wife, respectively. The problem is that the thin script doesn’t give these actors much to work with. Turner is the grizzled cop with a kind heart, whereas his partner is a rookie with family troubles of her own. Everyone else is simply there to be set dressing.
The central mystery begins with some intriguing hooks: there’s a striking gold tattoo on the Jane Doe, a commune living in the park who may be connected to the deceased, and a missing person report from 15 years ago. Events move at a steady pace, allowing viewers to soak in the gorgeous surroundings and stunning cinematography in all their glory. While this more relaxed speed makes for drier stretches, the show injects moments of gripping drama before an episode hits a lull, sucking viewers straight back into the action.
Untamed is a well-made thriller that boasts a strong cast and even stronger visuals. Despite its polish, it’s not the most exciting series to hit the streaming platform (especially in the wake of Dept. Q). However, it still manages to deliver an entertaining outing.
Andrew Murray
Untamed is released on Netflix on 17th July 2025.
Watch the trailer for Untamed here:
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