News

Everyone grieves in different ways. Some get over the death of a loved one in a week, some take a month, some are never able to “move on,” and some don’t even have the privilege to sit around and mope. Based on personal experience only, that last category is the most relatable because, well, life has always come in the way of my mourning stage. The endless cycle of giving exams, seeking employment, and ensuring that I don’t end up on the street has always kept me from taking even a 7-day hiatus to process death. For some reason, I stupidly assumed that this is the case for a majority of the planet’s population because of the consistent economic recession and rise in joblessness. And then I watched Dan Levy’s Good Grief and saw that rich people grieve in a manner that’s totally alien to me.

In the gloomy corridors of privilege, Humberto Hinojosa Ozcariz’s “Untamed Royals” emerges as a scathing meditation on the moral deterioration of affluent adolescents. This Mexican film immerses us in the lives of a group of teens caught in a web of wealth and excess, where hedonism reigns supreme and the lines between victim and offender blur.

The narrative begins with Xavier, a young guy immersed in the complications of familial neglect and psychopathic tendencies, who orchestrates a terrible charade of violence against his own family. Co-written by Santiago Mohar Volkow, the film masterfully navigates themes of existential ennui and the corrosive repercussions of wealth, crafting an unnerving portrayal of a generation seemingly disconnected from empathy.

“Untamed Royals,” classified as a crime-thriller, is marked by its adventurous creative choices—dark, claustrophobic photography that echoes the characters’ mental agony, combined with an almost voyeuristic gaze on their depravity.

The tone oscillates...

Teenage dramas have existed for as long as teens have been drumming up drama in schools and colleges. In the ’60s, there were Because They’re Young and Where the Boys Are. The ‘70s had American Graffiti, Grease, and Saturday Night Fever. The genre exploded in the ‘80s with movies like Dead Poets Society, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. And the ‘90s gave us The Basketball Diaries, Rushmore, 10 Things I Hate About You, and American Pie. But I think the movie that paved the way for stuff like Gossip Girl, Young Royals, 13 Reasons Why, Elite, Class, Euphoria, Maxton Hall, Hierarchy, and Untamed Royals was the cult classic, Cruel Intentions. It had adult actors playing high schoolers. It was filled to the brim with the risque stuff. And there was a lot of backstabbing and drugs involved. Since this particular subgenre of teen dramas is all the rage now,...

Last week, I was lamenting about the overabundance of YA shows and movies centered around rich and evil teens and tweens, which usually have nothing to offer other than “drama.” Hence, Untamed Royals felt like a change of pace as it contrasted the lustful and reckless nature of teens who have nothing but opulence with the utter helplessness of those who have known nothing but poverty. This week, I’m here to talk about the overabundance of “adult” shows about insanely rich families that pretend to say something about wealth but end up making a case for those who, in another time, should’ve been sent to the guillotine instead of being empathized with. Some of the insufferable (either due to its writing or its fandom) examples that are coming to mind are The White Lotus, Succession, Schitt’s Creek, The Crown, and Big Little Lies. Sharp Objects and The Fall of the House of Usher...

The new Netflix movie Untamed Royals makes it clear that justice always works in favor of the rich—the ones with money and power. If you’re poor and innocent, good luck getting justice. The sad truth is that you don’t stand a chance without power. In the movie, when expensive items start going missing from Santiago’s house in a wealthy neighborhood, the first person he suspects is his driver, Polo. Without a second thought, Polo is fired, even though the real culprits are likely Santiago’s own son, Xavier, and his best friend, Gerardo. Officer Rodrigo, who suspects the truth, doesn’t bother to stand up for Polo. Instead, the blame falls on the innocent staff, who couldn’t defend themselves. Now, let’s dive into the cast and characters that bring this story to life.

Xavier

Xavier, played by Juan Pablo Fuentes, is the son of Santiago and Victoria,...

Humberto Hinojosa Ozcariz’s Netflix film, Untamed Royals should really be called “Untamed Brats.” The story feels all too familiar. It’s all about how unfair life can be—where the rich snobs keep doing whatever they want and get away with it, while the poor, hardworking folks are always the first to be blamed when something goes wrong—beaten down by society. In this film, the story revolves around a wealthy man named Santiago, who starts noticing that things are being stolen from his home. Naturally, everyone suspects the poor driver, Polo. Why? Because it’s easier to blame the help than to consider that Santiago’s own son Xavier or his son’s best friend, Gerardo Larios, could be responsible. After all, they’re rich kids who already gamble and waste their parents’ money, so why would anyone suspect them of stealing? But then a detective named Rodrigo...

“Untamed Royals” is a Netflix movie starring Juan Pablo Fuentes, Ximena Lamadrid, Fernando Cattori and Renata Manterola. It is written by Santiago Mohar Volkow, and directed by Humberto Hinojosa Ozcariz.

“Untamed Royals” unfurls in the thrilling genre to depict a vivid portrait of misguided, privileged, and morally corrupt teenagers. However, what could have mimicked a “Funny Games” (1997) style narrative morphs into a fascinating police thriller that delves deep into the repercussions of these affluent adolescents’ errant actions.

In terms of cinematographic execution, the film boasts commendable performances, striking visuals, and well-measured pacing. The technical finesse in handling all the elements intrinsic to a thriller is evident and praiseworthy.

Plot Overview Untamed Royals

A band of spoiled teenagers, in a bid to combat their ennui, engages in criminal activities that culminate in catastrophic events, affecting innocent bystanders.

Film Analysis

“Untamed Royals” straddles the line between social critique and pure thriller, gravitating more towards the latter.

Netflix’s Mexican release, Untamed Royals, is about how conveniently the privileged class can escape crime. We know how scarily easy it can be for the elite class not to face the consequences of their actions, and Untamed Royals is another fictional example of a similar coverup. Xavier was born into a wealthy family, but he often found himself unamused. He lied to create excitement, and he could not help but admit to his therapist that he felt sexually turned on every time he lied. Xavier was often accompanied by his partner in crime, Gerardo, and the two would devise the most ridiculous ideas and plans. They were addicted to poker, and they needed a way to keep the money flowing. Xavier could have asked his father for cash, but it was not a fun way to get what he wanted. He enjoyed the power he possessed and the damage he could cause,...

At the cost of sounding like a geriatric fool who is severely out of touch with “the times,” I’ve grown up watching teen dramas set in high schools and colleges, like Hip Hip Hurray, Just Mohabbat, and D3: Dil Dosti Dance. Then, life happened, and I had to deal with it instead of watching it all through the prism of these fluffy TV shows. By the time I returned to this particular subgenre, the landscape had completely changed and high school and college-going students were shedding blood and other bodily fluids. 13 Reasons Why and Euphoria were straight-up jarring. Elite and Hierarchy highlighted aspects of the lives of teenagers that I was completely ignorant about. And India caught up with this trend via Class, School of Lies, and Farrey. But, in my opinion, most of these seemed like products of somebody’s weird fetish about teenagers with nothing substantial to say.

August is coming to an end and to round out the month, Netflix is adding a few new movies and shows to their lineup. Don't let the small number fool you; some of the new additions are huge shows that many people are looking forward to, including a new animated series, a new dark comedy, and a new thriller.

First up is Kaos! The new series hits Netflix on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024. The dark comedy is a retelling of Greek mythology and stars Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, Janet McTeer as Hera, David Thewlis as Hades, and Killian Scott as Orpheus. It also features Aurora Perrineau, Billie Piper, Debi Mazar, and Cliff Curtis. The show follows three humans who discover they have a connection to one another as well as a prophecy that leads them to deal with the arrogant gods.

Take a look at the trailer here:

Next up is The Deliverance!