Movies

You Won’t Believe What’s Hiding in Yosemite

BBG News

America’s national parks are regarded as national treasures, cherished by conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, holidaymakers, and many who consider themselves patriots. These natural wonders have been highlighted in captivating documentary series such as “Our Great National Parks” on Netflix, narrated by Barack Obama, and “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” a 12-hour PBS masterpiece by Ken Burns. They’ve made appearances in diverse films like “Wild,” “North by Northwest,” and “E.T.” In recent times, they’ve perhaps gained the most cultural recognition as the stunning setting for Taylor Sheridan’s successful TV Western series “Yellowstone.

In contrast to most narratives, the parks themselves – their immense size, intricate nature, and both authorized and unauthorized inhabitants who dwell within them – take center stage in the crime drama series “Untamed,” produced by Mark L. Smith (known for “American Primeval”) and Elle Smith on Netflix. Given the public’s fascination with detective series and streaming platforms’ quest to emulate the success of shows like “Yellowstone,” it’s likely that this production is a result of such trends. Although the writing and acting are average, the show is still worth watching if you have a keen interest in understanding the intricacies of a place like Yosemite, appreciate its natural wonders, and are curious about the possibility that such a pristine environment might harbor ugliness and corruption while exhibiting breathtaking natural beauty.

In terms of storyline, “Untamed” bears a resemblance to a common type of mystery surrounding a fallen cliff victim. Two climbers attempting to conquer Yosemite’s El Capitan almost meet their demise when they accidentally catch, in their ropes, a woman who tumbled from the summit of the cliff. Unfortunately, it’s too late to save her life. Despite political convenience suggesting she committed suicide, National Parks Service Agent Kyle Turner (played by Eric Bana), an experienced investigator, suspects she was fleeing someone. With the assistance of a fresh ranger, Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), who transferred from urban law enforcement, he embarks on the investigation. This task proves challenging due to numerous complications, including difficulties in identifying the deceased woman and navigating Yosemite’s vast, potentially hazardous landscape. Additionally, Turner’s past entanglements with park staffers and squatters add further obstacles to unveiling the truth behind Jane Doe’s tragic fall.

As a devoted cinephile, I must confess that this storyline feels overly familiar, relying on clichéd character arcs. The protagonist, Turner, is your typical anti-hero detective who’s been done to death in countless movies. He’s a top-notch investigator, yet he’s also arrogant, dismissive of his subordinates, grappling with alcoholism, and has a knack for late-night phone calls to his ex-wife, Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt), who somehow manages to remain patient despite the turmoil in their past.

Jill appears to have moved on, now married to a reliable dentist (Josh Randall), but their history lingers, and she can’t help but be entangled in Turner’s chaos. Parenting is a complex journey for everyone here, from Sam Neill’s seasoned chief ranger, Paul, who seems to dote excessively on his grown daughter, to Vazquez, who’s on the run with her four-year-old son from the boy’s father.

Once you realize that this series is about extraordinary lengths parents will go for their children, and in some cases, the unimaginable actions they might take against them, the shocking twist at the end won’t seem too unexpected.

Improving the writing and acting could have enhanced this production. However, despite some intriguing scenes in the Jane Doe plot, Untamed continues the trend of crime dramas with limited scope; it seems that the main characters in every major mystery spanning decades within the park are, for unclear reasons, consistently the same. The dialogue fluctuates between rough banter (“That’s the job, Ranger Vazquez,” Turner dismissively remarks) and sincere conversations that suggest the creators doubt viewers can grasp the implicit meaning (Paul: “You’ve secluded yourself within this park, Kyle”). Bana fails to bring enough charisma to make us care whether Turner solves the case, overcomes his demons, or succumbs permanently to alcoholism. Many of the other actors seem disconnected. DeWitt and Neill are talented performers, but their characters appear to adjust to fit unexpected plot twists. It’s challenging not to attribute their shallow performances to these narrative changes.

Even though there’s an abundance of ordinary crime dramas today, it doesn’t take much to make one stand out – just one unique touch. In the series Untamed, that special element is the creative portrayal of Yosemite National Park. Cinematographers Michael McDonough, known for capturing the Ozarks in Winter’s Bone and Portland’s Forest Park in Leave No Trace, and Brendan Uegama, who mastered the small-town noir of Riverdaleand its spinoffs, bring to life the park’s stunning sunrises over the peaks and breathtaking vistas, as well as the eerie depths of the forest and the dangers of rugged terrain. The initial scenes at El Capitan are a technical masterpiece, conveying the exact blend of awe and fear that climbers might feel. Moreover, the sound design is remarkable. Subtle differences between sounds like the peaceful babbling of a stream and the urgent roar of a waterfall emphasize the unpredictability of the wilderness.

The depiction of the 750,000-acre park in the series is enriched by all we witness and hear, revealing it as a seemingly idyllic and tourist-friendly locale that conceals a dark underbelly of hidden tunnels, illicit activities, and transient populations that are not as harmless or carefree as they seem. This revelation only strengthens our admiration for the raw power of nature. The characters like Turner, Vazquez, Jill, Paul are poorly developed compared to the complex and captivating protagonist, Yosemite itself. In simpler terms, the series portrays Yosemite as a place with a beautiful surface but a hidden dangerous side, making it more compelling than its characters.

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2025-07-17 11:06

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