Untamed: Wilderness Noir Redefined on Netflix

In the new Netflix limited series Untamed, the rain-slicked streets and shadowy back alleys of classic noir are replaced by the vast, indifferent wilderness of Yosemite National Park. The six-episode mystery-thriller fuses the conventions of a traditional crime story with the raw tension of a survival thriller, carving out a distinct space for itself in the genre of “wilderness noir.” Here, the central crime is not just a puzzle to be solved, but a dark reflection of the untamed forces of both nature and the human psyche. The series centers on Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), a special agent for the National Park Service’s elite Investigative Services Branch (ISB), whose mission to enforce human law in an untamable landscape sets the stage for a gripping exploration of order versus chaos. When a brutal death shatters the park’s tranquility, Turner is drawn into an investigation that forces him to confront the darkness lurking beneath the scenic beauty, and the ghosts of his own past.

Untamed

The Central Mystery: A Collision of Pasts

The narrative is ignited by a stark and unsettling discovery: a woman has fallen from the heights of El Capitan, her body discovered in a state that raises immediate questions of accident, animal attack, or homicide. This initial ambiguity establishes a core theme of man versus nature, forcing characters and viewers alike to question whether the horror is a product of the wild or a calculated act of human malice. As Kyle Turner’s investigation unfolds, the mystery shifts from a question of survival to a psychological thriller, confirming the crime is “distinctly human.” The case sets Turner on a collision course with the park’s hidden secrets and, more critically, with his own unresolved trauma. Haunted by a past case he failed to close, Turner’s hunt for a killer becomes a potential path to redemption, his personal grief fueling a relentless determination to serve the victim’s family. The title, Untamed, thus operates on multiple levels, referring not only to the raw wilderness but also to the untamed aspects of human nature—the protagonist’s inner demons, the killer’s motives, and the buried secrets of the community.

The Ensemble: Investigators, Insiders, and Ghosts of the Past

The series populates its world with a complex ensemble whose dynamics give voice to its central themes. At the forefront is Kyle Turner (Eric Bana), the haunted NPS agent whose past roles in intense, conflicted films like The Dry and Munich inform his portrayal. As an executive producer, Bana’s investment in the project is palpable. A foil to Turner’s turmoil is Paul Souter (Sam Neill), the veteran chief park ranger and a lifelong Yosemite insider. Souter is a stable, knowledgeable friend to Turner, comfortable navigating both the park’s criminal element and its bureaucracy. Neill’s presence evokes his iconic role in Jurassic Park, adding a layer of an authority figure once again presiding over a beautiful but dangerous domain. The audience’s entry point is Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago), an ambitious rookie ranger and former Los Angeles cop seeking a new start in Yosemite with her young son. Her big-city homicide techniques initially clash with Turner’s instinct-driven methods, setting up a significant character arc as she adapts to a world with different laws of survival. The ghost of Turner’s past is embodied by his ex-wife, Jill Bodwin (Rosemarie DeWitt). A former park counselor who has since remarried, she maintains a “strong bond” with Turner, serving as the gatekeeper to his trauma and the emotional anchor of the story’s noir elements. Rounding out the core group are two figures representing the park’s societal extremes: Shane Maguire (Wilson Bethel), a reclusive ex-army ranger and wildlife expert who lives by his own rules, and Bruce Milch (William Smillie), a veteran ranger whose resentment toward Turner introduces a source of internal conflict.

The Creative Pedigree: Masters of the Wilderness Thriller

Untamed is helmed by the father-daughter team of Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, who serve as creators, writers, and co-showrunners. Mark L. Smith’s work on films like The Revenant and American Primeval establishes him as a prominent voice in stories defined by survival and the unforgiving conflict between humanity and nature. His visually descriptive style, which prioritizes action and atmosphere over dialogue, is perfectly suited to the series’ tone. Elle Smith, who previously co-wrote The Marsh King’s Daughter with her father, brings a shared sensibility for the genre. The series stands as a contemporary entry in an informal thematic trilogy of American wilderness stories Mark L. Smith has developed for Netflix. All six episodes are directed by Thomas Bezucha, whose work on films like Let Him Go is noted for its focus on character-driven drama and strong performances. This pairing of a director skilled in intimate drama with a writer known for high-concept environmental tension suggests a deliberate creative synthesis, ensuring the character-driven aspect of the thriller is as potent as the action.

The Landscape as a Character: The Duality of Yosemite

In Untamed, Yosemite National Park is more than a setting; it is an active participant. The creators deliberately focus on the 90 percent of the park unseen by tourists—a vast, dangerous space that operates by its own rules. Though set in the iconic American park, the series was filmed primarily in British Columbia, Canada, with locations like Squamish’s The Chief standing in for El Capitan. This production choice underscores the challenge of capturing a place’s essence. The visual language of the series juxtaposes majestic scenery with a dark, foreboding atmosphere, where the wilderness is both a place to bury secrets and a crucible that strips away modern artifice, forcing a reliance on primal instinct. The story also taps into a contemporary cultural anxiety surrounding the mysteries of America’s national parks, echoing folklore of unexplained disappearances and lending the fictional narrative an unsettling verisimilitude. The real-life history and legends of the Yosemite region, including its original name being derived from a word for “killer,” provide a rich, ominous subtext that deepens the series’ unsettling tone.

All six episodes of the limited series Untamed were released on Netflix on July 17, 2025.