The Untamed - The Untamed(DVD/Blu Ray) [Arrow Academy - 2017]Over the last few years, there has been a real resurgence in the horror/ sci-fi side of Mexican cinema and 2016’s The Untamed is another arty & thought-provoking example of this trend. Here we have a recent Arrow Academy release of the film- in either Blu Day or DVD format. The Untamed was directed Amat Escalante- who has been working in within Mexican independent cinema since the early 2000’s. He is most known for his 2013 film Heli- a controversial & bleak crime drama. The Untamed certainly retains the bleak & depressing elements of Heil, yet it also has a darkly mysterious & surreally sensual edges to it too.
The film is best described as a blend of gritty kitchen sink drama, sordid love story, with subtle elements of Sci-fi & horror. Its plot focus in on Alejandra - a young women whose in a mundane, passionless & loveless with marriage with her macho husband Angel- who for all of his heterosexual posturing is having a homosexual relationship with Alexandra’s medic brother Fabian. Into this love triangle steps Veronica, and she introduces into the plot an elderly couple who live in a cabin in the woods with a sexually active alien begin.
Throughout the film manages to good balance between dramatic domestic bleakness, slowly unfolding mystery and moments of dark & lingering beauty. The sci-fi & horror elements are mainly kept low-key and subtle- so don’t go into this either expecting lots of creature effects, gore, or intense horror. It’s more of slow & moody build- with moments of stark drama, lingering dark wonder, and interesting commentary about both human sexuality & intimacy.
The Untamed is definitely a film for those who enjoy edgy & bleak foreign language drama. But equally, it will appeal to the horror or sci-fi fan who is looking for something a little more arty, dark & thought-provoking. Roger Batty
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