In July 2025, Netflix unleashed Untamed, a six-episode crime thriller miniseries that has taken the streaming world by storm, earning an impressive 83% critics’ score and an 89% audience Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have hailed it as a gripping fusion of Yellowstone’s rugged, neo-western intensity and True Detective’s brooding, existential mystery, redefining the crime thriller genre with its raw emotional depth and shocking twists. Starring Eric Bana as a haunted National Parks Service agent and featuring a stellar ensemble including Sam Neill, Lily Santiago, and Rosemarie DeWitt, Untamed is set in the breathtaking yet perilous Yosemite National Park. This slow-burn masterpiece delves into the dark secrets of a small park community, blurs the lines of morality, and follows a detective’s dangerous obsession that will leave viewers too unnerved to watch alone at night. With its unpredictable narrative, rich character arcs, and a setting that amplifies every moment of dread, Untamed is the thriller everyone is talking about. Here’s why this series is a must-watch and why it’s shaking up everything you thought you knew about crime dramas.
A Plot That Grips and Unsettles
Untamed follows Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a special agent for the National Parks Service’s Investigative Services Branch, tasked with enforcing human law in the vast wilderness of Yosemite National Park. The story begins with a seemingly straightforward case: the discovery of a woman’s body at the base of a cliff. Was it an accident or murder? As Turner digs deeper, partnering with rookie park ranger Naya Vazquez (Lily Santiago), the investigation spirals into a labyrinth of crimes, corruption, and long-buried secrets that have plagued the park for years. The central mystery is layered with personal stakes, as Turner and his ex-wife, Jill (Rosemarie DeWitt), grapple with the unresolved grief of their son’s death years earlier, a tragedy tied to secrets that resurface with devastating consequences.
The series, co-created by Mark L. Smith (The Revenant, American Primeval), unfolds across six episodes, each meticulously crafted to balance suspense with emotional heft. Unlike traditional crime dramas that rely on rapid-fire twists, Untamed embraces a slow-burn approach, allowing tension to simmer until it erupts in jaw-dropping revelations. The narrative weaves Native American folklore, park community dynamics, and personal trauma into a noir-inspired detective story that feels both intimate and expansive. Critics like Pramit Chatterjee of Digital Mafia Talkies praise its willingness to “question the point of learning the truth when the damage done by lies is irreparable,” highlighting its philosophical depth.
The plot’s darkness is its greatest strength. Scenes of violence—such as a brutal attack in the park’s dense forest or a chilling confrontation in a remote cabin—are shot with stark realism, making them feel visceral and unsettling. One particularly harrowing moment involves a character’s descent into paranoia, filmed in near-darkness with only the sound of rustling leaves and distant animal calls, creating a sense of dread that lingers long after the episode ends. These elements, combined with the show’s exploration of moral ambiguity, make Untamed a series that viewers might hesitate to watch alone at night, as the line between hunter and hunted blurs in the wilderness.
A Setting That Amplifies the Terror
What sets Untamed apart from other crime thrillers is its unique setting in Yosemite National Park. While not filmed in the actual park, the series captures its majestic yet foreboding essence through sweeping cinematography of towering cliffs, dense forests, and misty valleys. The wilderness is not just a backdrop but a character in itself, amplifying the story’s tension. As co-creator Elle Smith told Netflix’s Tudum, “Because Vazquez is new to the park, we get to see the park through her eyes. We get to understand what this job is, and see the beauty of the park, but also the dangers”. The unpredictable nature of the landscape—raging rivers, hidden caves, and treacherous trails—mirrors the characters’ unraveling psyches, making every step feel like a descent into the unknown.
The park’s community, a tight-knit group of rangers, locals, and seasonal workers, adds another layer of intrigue. Unlike urban crime dramas, Untamed explores the isolation and insularity of a small town within the park, where everyone knows each other’s secrets—or so they think. This dynamic, reminiscent of Yellowstone’s portrayal of Montana’s rural power struggles, creates a pressure cooker of suspicion and betrayal. A scene where Turner interrogates a park employee in a dimly lit ranger station, with shadows cast by flickering lantern light, feels like a nod to True Detective’s moody interrogations, grounding the series in a gritty, atmospheric realism.
A Stellar Cast That Elevates the Drama
The ensemble cast of Untamed is a major draw, delivering performances that anchor the series’ emotional and psychological complexity. Eric Bana, in his first major TV role in seven years, is riveting as Kyle Turner, a stoic yet deeply vulnerable agent haunted by his past. Bana’s portrayal captures Turner’s inner turmoil—his grief over his son’s death, his strained relationship with Jill, and his obsessive need to uncover the truth. Critics, like Daniel Fienberg of THR, note that Bana’s “slow thawing” keeps viewers invested, as his character grapples with moral dilemmas and personal demons. A standout moment sees Turner breaking down alone in his truck after uncovering a devastating clue, his face a mask of anguish that showcases Bana’s ability to convey raw emotion.
Lily Santiago shines as Naya Vazquez, the rookie ranger whose urban background contrasts with the park’s wildness. Her chemistry with Bana is both comedic and poignant, providing lighter moments amid the darkness. Santiago’s Vazquez is curious and determined, serving as the audience’s guide into the park’s mysteries. Her scenes with Bana, particularly a tense sequence where they navigate a stormy forest trail, crackle with energy, blending camaraderie with underlying tension.
Sam Neill, as a grizzled park veteran with secrets of his own, brings gravitas and ambiguity to his role. His performance is understated yet menacing, hinting at a deeper connection to the park’s dark history. Rosemarie DeWitt, as Jill, delivers a heartbreaking portrayal of a woman torn between love, loss, and betrayal. Wilson Bethel, playing a local with ties to the park’s underbelly, adds a layer of unpredictability, his character’s motives shifting like the park’s treacherous terrain. The ensemble’s strength lies in their ability to make each character feel flawed and human, drawing viewers into their personal stakes.
Dark Themes and Moral Ambiguity
Untamed excels in its exploration of dark themes, particularly the blurred lines of morality and the cost of obsession. Turner’s investigation forces him to confront not only external crimes but also his own guilt and failures as a father and husband. The series doesn’t shy away from asking uncomfortable questions: Is justice worth pursuing when it reopens old wounds? Can truth heal, or does it destroy? These themes echo True Detective’s existential musings, particularly in scenes where Turner reflects on his son’s death while staring into Yosemite’s vast wilderness, the landscape mirroring his inner void.
The show’s depiction of corruption within the park community—rangers covering up crimes, locals hiding dark pasts—adds a layer of paranoia reminiscent of Yellowstone’s power struggles. A particularly chilling subplot involves Native American folklore, with whispers of a curse tied to the park’s history. This supernatural element, handled subtly, enhances the eerie atmosphere without overshadowing the grounded mystery. One late-night scene, where a character encounters a shadowy figure in the woods, blends folklore with psychological horror, leaving viewers questioning what’s real.
The moral ambiguity extends to the supporting characters. Jill’s struggle with her ex-husband’s obsession, Naya’s naive determination to prove herself, and Neill’s enigmatic veteran all navigate a gray moral landscape. A shocking twist in episode five, involving a betrayal by a trusted figure, flips the narrative, forcing viewers to reevaluate their assumptions. This unpredictability, paired with the series’ refusal to offer easy answers, makes Untamed a thought-provoking watch that lingers long after the credits roll.
Shocking Twists That Redefine the Genre
If you think you’ve seen every twist a crime thriller can offer, Untamed proves you wrong. The series masterfully plants red herrings and misdirections, keeping viewers guessing until the final episode. Without spoiling specifics, the twists are both emotionally and narratively impactful, tying together the central murder mystery, Turner’s personal tragedy, and the park’s hidden history. One reviewer noted that the finale delivers a “satisfying ending” that avoids the need for follow-up seasons, a rarity for limited series that often tease unresolved cliffhangers.
A standout twist involves a revelation about the victim’s identity, unveiled in a haunting flashback sequence that shifts the entire investigation’s perspective. Another involves a character’s secret connection to Turner’s past, delivered in a gut-punch moment that had social media buzzing with shocked reactions. Posts on X called the twists “mind-blowing” and “heart-stopping,” with fans praising the series for avoiding predictable tropes. These surprises, combined with the slow-burn pacing, ensure that each episode builds toward a crescendo that feels earned rather than gratuitous.
Why It’s Too Intense for Nighttime Viewing
Untamed’s ability to unsettle lies in its atmospheric tension and psychological depth. The series’ use of sound—howling winds, snapping branches, and eerie silence—creates a pervasive sense of unease. Nighttime scenes, particularly those set in the park’s dense forests, are shot with minimal lighting, amplifying the fear of what lurks beyond the frame. A sequence where Turner and Vazquez chase a suspect through a foggy ravine, with only flashlights cutting through the darkness, is so intense that viewers might find themselves checking their own windows.
The show’s exploration of human nature’s darker impulses—greed, betrayal, and obsession—adds to its chilling impact. A moment where a character confesses a horrific act in a whisper, their face half-lit by firelight, feels like a scene ripped from a nightmare. The combination of visceral violence, psychological horror, and moral complexity makes Untamed a series that might keep viewers up at night, questioning not just the characters’ choices but their own.
Critical and Audience Reception
Untamed’s debut has been a critical and audience triumph. Its 83% Rotten Tomatoes score reflects praise for its performances, setting, and narrative depth, with reviewers like Alex Maidy of JoBlo comparing its impact to “what Yellowstone did for Montana”. The 89% Popcornmeter score indicates strong audience approval, with fans on X calling it “the best thriller on Netflix right now” and praising its “gorgeous yet terrifying” visuals. While ScreenRant gave it a modest 4/10, calling it “predictable and uninspired,” they acknowledged its potential as a tighter film, a minority opinion amid widespread acclaim.
The series’ bingeable six-episode format is a significant draw. As NextPit noted, “No outrageous cliffhangers, no forced twists: just a good story, well told,” making it ideal for a weekend watch. Its ability to balance introspective drama with contemporary western vibes has drawn comparisons to Yellowstone’s sweeping landscapes and True Detective’s dark, philosophical tone, appealing to fans of both.
A Game-Changer for Crime Thrillers
Untamed is more than a crime thriller; it’s a genre-redefining masterpiece that challenges viewers to rethink what a mystery can be. Its blend of Yellowstone’s gritty, rural drama and True Detective’s psychological intensity creates a unique viewing experience that’s both emotionally resonant and terrifyingly unpredictable. Eric Bana’s powerhouse performance, supported by a stellar cast, brings to life a story of loss, obsession, and redemption set against the haunting beauty of Yosemite. With twists that shock, themes that provoke, and an atmosphere that chills, Untamed is not just a show you watch—it’s one you feel.
For those craving a thriller that pushes boundaries and keeps you on edge, Untamed is a must-watch. Stream it now on Netflix, but maybe keep the lights on. As one X user put it, “This show is so intense, I’m sleeping with my dog tonight!”. Dive into the mystery, uncover the secrets, and discover why Untamed is the thriller everyone’s talking about.
