It's easy to predict when a new film will make it into the Netflix Top 10. Bird Box Barcelona" or "Puss in Boots": however, the recently released documentary "Unknown: Cave of Bones" was a surprise hit.
The documentary, which appeared on Netflix on Monday, July 17, jumped to #6 on Netflix's top 10 most-watched list. This places it higher than "Boss Baby" and the sci-fi action film "65. Yes, a documentary about paleoanthropology beat out a movie about Adam Drieve fighting dinosaurs. That's quite an accomplishment!
But if you know little about Unknown: But if you know little about Unknown: The Cave of Bones, is it worth streaming or will another Netflix project throw you into the skip pile you might wonder. Below you'll find all the details you need to decide if this feature-length documentary is worthy of being on your Netflix watch list, so let's get started.
Unknown Cave of Bones takes viewers on a journey to the Cradle of Humankind, a paleoanthropological site located northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. This site is famous for having the highest concentration of human ancestor remains in the world. And it is here that Lee Burger makes a discovery that could change history.
The expert paleoanthropologist discovers what appears to be the world's oldest cemetery, with remains and artifacts estimated to be over 250,000 years old. However, the remains buried here are seemingly not human, and the discovery raises complex questions about our earliest ancestors.
Now Lee and his team are trying to prove that this ancient ape-like creature had a complex burial ritual. And if they can determine it to be true, it will change everything we know about evolution, the origins of faith, and what it really means to be human.
At the time of this writing, there is not much critical consensus on Unknown: Cave of Bones. In fact, the overall rating site Rotten Tomatoes currently has only three reviews, not enough to assign a score. However, it has a 62% rating from audiences and a much lower rating from viewers.
Brandon Yu of The New York Times gave the show a mostly favorable rating, writing, "As the team unearths evidence, the documentary provides a ripe window into the process of scientific discovery." Meanwhile, John Sarver of Decider said, "One could nitpick the film's structure and approach to the material, but 'Cave of Bones' offers some pretty engrossing science that is, in any case, eye-opening."
Far less favorable was YouTuber Chris Joyce, who gave a rather scathing verdict in their video review: "The biggest and most glaring problem is that about 99% of it is pure speculation and conjecture. The lack of objective science makes it a waste of time and disappointing.
If you're looking for something thought-provoking and new on Netflix, Unknown: Cave of Bones may be just what you're looking for. It's a documentary that examines some pretty big questions, and while it lacks definitive answers, it's sure to get your brain running full blast and may spark a discussion at the family dinner table.
But if you are craving something light and refreshing after a long day of dealing with real-world responsibilities, you may want to toss this film on your watch list to watch at a later date instead. It is definitely not a Netflix movie to watch for easy entertainment.
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