Highlights
- The archaelogists working on the Netflix documentary are from the University of Cambridge.
- Gideon Bradshaw is the exective producer of this 2024 Netflix documentary.
- Led by Rod Hifle, the VFX work of the documentary was handled by Lux Aeterna.
Secrets of the Neanderthals is a 2024 documentary that unfolds the creative and complex nature of Neanderthals.
During the research, the archaeologists explore some intriguing and best artifacts through the lens of a landmark discovery.
Secrets of the Neanderthals Unveils Mysteries With A Fresh Perspective From Archaeologists
Secrets of the Neanderthals (2024)
An intriguing insight into human civilization.
Genre
Documentary| Release Date | May 2, 2024 |
| Director | Ashley Gething |
| Casts | Gabriel Andreu, Graeme Barker, Ibbi El Hani |
Secrets of the Neanderthals offers a fresh perspective on the mysteries of Neanderthals; however, it received mixed reviews from audiences and movie critics.
The documentary is fascinating to some because of its unique storyline that unveils the intriguing side of human civilization.
Having said that, some found the film full of baseless speculations, the details of which remain yet to be ascertained.
An IMDb user critically assessed the documentary, expressing his utter dissatisfaction with a rating of 4/10, writing,
Full of Unbased Speculations. There are too many assumptions they regard as conclusions. Not every circle is evidence for religion, and not every corpse in a cave is sacred burial.
While most reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with the documentary, some praised its modern thinking about Neanderthals’ mystery.
A user named Roberta Smith expressed her refreshing perspective on the documentary, countering the criticisms raised by many reviewers.
Roberta, a postgraduate archaeologist, defended the negative reviewer’s dissatisfaction, acknowledging the inevitability of assumptions in archaeology.
She suggested that reviewers might have unrealistic expectations regarding the certainty of archaeological conclusions.
Get a look at the trailer here,
Likewise, the user reminded the audience that the interpretations are subject to change as new evidence unfolds.
Roberta also praises the documentary as valuable information to the world of the Neanderthals, rating it a 7/10.
Similarly, another comment reading, “It is a lost one hour of my life,” highlighted its strengths and weaknesses.
Like many others, the user laments the documentary’s failure to fully address intriguing questions like why certain Neanderthals vanished with a rating of 2/10.
Having said that, the reviewer acknowledges the outstanding production quality of the documentary, including the impressive 3D designs and artistic works.
The comment offers a balanced assessment of the documentary, recognizing its strength in production while critiquing its shortcomings in content.
The documentary received a 50% audience score for spilled popcorn, indicating fewer than 50 ratings on the rating platform.
Despite Few Questionable Assumptions, “Secrets of Neanderthals“ has Impressive 3D Designs and Artistic Works
The Belmont Film House was wonderstruck to see the outstanding production of the Netflix documentary, including its 3D designs of the Neanderthal skeleton.
It is worth praising the precise detailing of every bone in a digital recreation based on a LiDAR scan of the cave.
Not to forget, the VFX team who turned the raw data into a life-like 3D reconstruction deserves a big round of applause.
The documentary took us on a rollercoaster ride that began 300,000 years ago when Neanderthals spread from Russia to the Atlantic coast.
All the archeology experts came together to discover more about Neanderthals, and their extinct really offered a fresh perspective to the audience.
Secrets of the Neanderthals. Wonderful. Poignant. Watch it. pic.twitter.com/BBc40cYI5X
— Deirdre (@intheWildHills) May 5, 2024
Tens of thousands of artifacts have been accumulated over the last 30 years, and the synergy between researchers and the production team appears commendable and praiseworthy.
The archeologists focused everyone’s attention on questions like what it means to be human and other deep questions.
Also, they touched on parts of their existence as the first signs of spiritual evolution and religion, showing the burial in the cave.
However, we have a different take on this part because we believe not every corpse in a cave is necessarily a sacred burial.
Although the documentary is flooded with speculations about Neanderthals’ which are certainly thought-provoking, it often fails to distinguish between established evidence and theory.
To sum it up, we gather the audience’s attention, suggesting they watch the documentary with a critical eye, recognizing that the content is more speculative.
