On August 28, the Mexican film "Untamed Royals" was released on Netflix. Ximena Lamadrid plays Mariana and co-stars alongside Juan Pablo Fuentes as Xavier and Fernando Cattori as Gerardo. This film is full of toxic and wealthy teenagers, who do not believe in the consequences of their actions.
A few wealthy and well-connected teenagers take advantage of their social standing to commit crimes and get away with it, but their lavish lifestyles conceal a sinister reality where the weakest members of society bear most of the consequences. The main teens in connection with these crimes from the beginning are Gerardo and Xavier; they are best friends. Xavier has a bad relationship with his family which makes him want to steal from them and he gets enjoyment out of lying to his family and friends. While Gerardo commits the heists during the movie, it gets dangerous. This is where the consequences come in.
Highs
There aren't many high points in this movie, but the location is a neighborhood full of mansions; it is stunning. Initially, the plot is intriguing as it illustrates a lesson in reality about pampered adolescents who believe they can get away with anything, including murder. Xavier and Gerardo have a close relationship; they support one another no matter what, even when it's wrong.
Another highlight of the movie is how the robbery that is taking place at the beginning keeps the audience interested. After Xavier is shot, the robbery becomes more violent, demonstrating Gerardo's willingness to do anything for money, even shoot his closest friend.
Lamadrid's performance, which is distinct from her earlier films, is another highlight. Throughout the entire movie, her character struggles with anxiety. She expresses her feelings of having a greater consciousness than Xavier and Gerardo. There are serious instances where Mariana tries to act morally but is unable to do so as a result of them.
Lows
The lows within the film surround the plot. Though intriguing, it is confusing and hard to understand. After the robbery instance, it was confusing since it was not clear how the characters were connected. Another low was the family of Xavier considering there was no background information about why he was distant towards them. His father seemed against him rather than protecting him. The family dynamic was also confusing because there were multiple families within this neighborhood.
Another negative point was the lack of sequences featuring these adolescents in high school, making it unclear when these events occurred. Another negative aspect was Gerardo's personality and his need to dominate everyone, even Xavier. When it came to money, he was the most callous and egotistical. When he and Xavier argued, there were times when Gerardo would get upset and try to convince him that he was mistaken.
It was still unclear what mental health problems Xavier was facing. In one of their sessions, he told his therapist that he enjoys lying because it keeps him from being bored. Mariana on the other hand experienced nervous ticks, but the cause of these illnesses was never disclosed. The fact that the parents appeared to be living their own lives and not paying attention to their children was another bad point.
Verdict
Considering how confusing the plot and character relationships are in "Untamed Royal," this film is hardly worth watching. Strong language and explicit content throughout; intended solely for a mature audience.
Rating: 4.5 out of 10
