Summary
Leaving nothing to waste, the film brings a social study on the disparity between classes and a sobering reflection on the consequences of wealth and entitlement.
Untamed Royals follows a group of privileged youths who use their status to commit crimes and wreak havoc in their ultra-wealthy neighborhood, resulting in devastating circumstances for the vulnerable. This movie is a lot, and its sheer brutality took me back.
There are no consequences. What struck me, and will undoubtedly strike many, is that the crime drama shows no desire to present any redeemable action or punishment for the way these young teenagers function.
In essence, Untamed Royals is a social study assessing a generation of young people born with wealth and security and the sizable gap between them and their peers. This film is an extreme social study; however, due to its strong, inflamed focus, it resoundingly gets its point across.
Encircling the movie are full-grown adults, including the police investigators and the parents. The story is primarily framed through the lens of the teenagers, who play out their motives and sexual desires—the world is their playground, and the audience is living in it.
Admittedly, I felt uncomfortable by the sheer sociopathy on display. The film opens with Xavier faking a home invasion and burglary with his friend in his family home. The lengths the teenagers go to generate individual wealth from their established families are not for warm viewing.
It’s perhaps slightly unprecedented that director Humberto Hinojosa Ozcariz chose such a sobering direction. The film’s idea is that evil occurs in this world with no comeuppance to follow.
This is a difficult idea that many audiences will struggle to comprehend. Most fictional stories, focusing on social aspects or otherwise, have a good versus evil landscape. Nothing emotionally satisfying comes from Untamed Royals apart from a sour taste in your mouth.
It would help if the film showed some light in a dark world, but even the characters without involvement in the crimes are not admirable. The feature purposefully has a grim outlook on the make-up of human beings.
This is a surprisingly well-crafted feature. It relies on the viewers to accept a dark reality imposed on them by extremely selfish and unaware characters.
It’s possible that the director understands the burden of being privileged and born with generational wealth. A social theory has existed in recent times that those born with everything tend to be more depressed. Why? Because they have everything from day one.
Humans are meant to have a purpose. In many ways, purpose only makes better ideas as we desire to make things better. If, for instance, you are born into poverty, you have the relativity between a comfortable and a non-comfortable life. There’s a range and difference that can be gauged. The more you progress, the more you understand the reward of carrying out your purpose.
I suspect that the director understands this about their characters in Untamed Royals. Because they lack that relativity and understanding, they are dependent on creating chaos to feel something of purpose instead.
Fernando Casttori as Gerardo in ‘Untamed Royals’ (Credit – Netflix)
This film also discusses the disparity between the working class and the wealthy, how easy it can be for the rich to take advantage of the vulnerable in criminal and social circumstances to avoid accountability, and how the status quo is completely different, legally and criminally, based on status.
Untamed Royals does divulge a little too much. Some scenes sensationalize more than necessary, with the director attempting to initiate a particular, dark atmosphere. There is nothing wrong with setting the tone and enjoying it, but I often felt that the movie would have benefitted from pedaling at a better pace.
Untamed Royals is a dark, honest, and atmospheric experience. You will like no one but be compelled by the audacity of the world presented.
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