Movie Review: Piggy (2022)
Synopsis
Piggy, directed by Carlota Pereda, is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the themes of body image, bullying, and revenge. Set in a quiet rural town in Spain, the film centres around Sara (Laura Galán), an overweight teenager who faces relentless harassment from her peers, particularly her former friends. While working at her family’s butcher shop, Sara’s life takes a terrifying turn when she becomes the witness to a violent confrontation between a group of bullies and a mysterious stranger.
The film’s narrative kicks off with Sara enduring a humiliating day at school, where her classmates ridicule her appearance. Seeking solace in the isolation of her home, she soon finds herself haunted by the viciousness of her peers, leaving her vulnerable to the dark thoughts that begin to invade her mind. The film takes a sharp turn when she inadvertently crosses paths with a violent figure who abducts her bullies. What follows is a psychological cat-and-mouse game that lays bare Sara’s internal conflict between her desire for acceptance and her instinct for survival.
As the plot unfolds, Sara finds herself caught in a moral quandary: does she intervene and save her tormentors, or does she savour the consequences of their torment, perhaps even feeling vindicated? Piggy masterfully explores the emotional complexity of its characters while offering a visceral commentary on the effects of bullying, weight stigma, and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion.
List of Actors and Their Characters
- Laura Galán as Sara
- Richard Holmes as the Stranger
- Carmen Machi as Sara’s Mother
- Claudia Salas as the Bully (Elisa)
- Mireia Oriol as the Bully (Rocío)
- Álvaro Morte as José, Sara’s Father
- Marina Salas as Raquel, Sara’s Friend
Review
Piggy is a film that delivers both suspense and drama wrapped in a poignant social commentary. The directorial debut of Carlota Pereda cements her as a bold new voice in horror cinema. From the very first frame, the film sets a tense atmosphere that intertwines the stark realities of adolescence with horror elements that feel tragically relatable.
One of the strongest aspects of Piggy is its ability to evoke empathy for its protagonist, Sara. Laura Galán’s performance is utterly compelling, portraying a character who is both tormented and relatable. Galán inhabits her role with a raw intensity that captures the challenges of being an outsider, particularly as pressures regarding body image and societal expectations mount. Sara’s journey through pain, anger, and ultimately a form of empowerment is depicted with remarkable nuance, allowing the audience to root for her as she navigates her complex feelings about her own identity and her desperate need for acceptance.
The thematic exploration of bullying in Piggy is strikingly nuanced; it refrains from painting a black-and-white view of victim and tormentor. The film invites audiences to consider the motivations behind harmful behaviours while also encapsulating the acute emotional pain that comes from being ostracised. The vicious cycle of bullying is cleverly mirrored in Sara’s relationship with her physicality and the desperate choices she faces as she encounters the enigmatic Stranger.
Cinematographically, Piggy is a beautifully shot film, making clever use of its rural setting. The breathtaking landscapes juxtapose the film’s dark subject matter, producing a striking contrast that enhances the tension. The use of lighting and shadows creates a palpable sense of unease, while the sound design heightens the emotional stakes of the narrative. There’s an unsettling stillness to the scenes that immerses the viewer further into Sara’s world, reflecting her isolation and the duplicity of her external environment.
The film’s narrative pacing is meticulous, slowly building the tension before unleashing chaotic yet poignant drama. The moment Sara decides whether to help her tormentors or allow their fate to unfold is a crescendo of emotional weight, wherein the audience is left grappling with their own feelings of righteous indignation and moral duty. These themes are brought to the forefront in a chillingly effective climax, where Sara’s choices ultimately emerge as a reflection of her painful journey through adolescence.
While Piggy leans into horror and thriller tropes, it distinguishes itself through its heavy emotional undertones. Rather than relying solely on graphic violence or sensationalism, Pereda delves deeper into the psychological implications of her characters’ actions, allowing the tension to derive from moral ambiguity instead of mere shock value.
However, Piggy is not without its faults. Some viewers may find the pacing slightly uneven, particularly in the film’s middle section, where moments of reflection could cause a dip in momentum. Furthermore, the film’s commentary, while poignant, may feel overexposed to audiences familiar with themes of bullying and body image in modern media. Yet, these criticisms pale in comparison to the film’s strengths, as Pereda crafts a compelling narrative that resonates long after the credits roll.
In conclusion, Piggy (2022) excels in its portrayal of the heavy psychological burden borne by those on the fringes of society while using horror as a lens through which to explore deeper human connections, fears, and desires. The combination of a stellar performance by Laura Galán, atmospheric cinematography, and a nuanced approach to heavy themes results in a cinematic experience that lingers. It serves as a reminder that the horror of human cruelty can often be more disturbing than the supernatural or physical terror we may encounter.
Score: 8.5/10
