The Untamed (2016 film)

The Untamed (2016 film) is a Mexican drama film directed by Amat Escalante. It premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival where Escalante won the Silver Lion for Best Director.

The film explores themes of machismo, sexuality, repression, and the destructive nature of unchecked desires within a small Mexican town. The narrative centers around Alejandra, a young mother and wife trapped in a dissatisfying marriage with Angel, who is secretly having an affair. Their lives are disrupted by the arrival of Verónica, who introduces them to a secluded cabin where a mysterious and tentacled creature resides, offering them a transcendent and often violent experience. The creature, while initially presented as monstrous, becomes a catalyst for exploring the characters' hidden desires and the limitations of their conventional lives.

The Untamed is known for its explicit sexual content, graphic violence, and its blending of social realism with elements of science fiction and horror. The film challenges societal norms surrounding gender roles and sexual identity, presenting a complex and unsettling portrait of human nature and the search for liberation.