There is powerlessness for those who have been victims of bullying. An inability to control or change their situation, yet a constant fear of the next time it will strike. It paralyzes, slowly picking away at one’s self-worth and willingness to embrace situations and opportunities around them. Yet, what if your bullies just… disappeared? For Carlota Pereda‘s Piggy, its central protagonist Sara (Laura Galán) is given this moment of reprieve, yet not without its complications and heavy burden. Yet, as Piggy follows Sara in the aftermath of the disappearance of her bullies, it also captures the environment around her. From disregarding elders to small-town hysteria, Piggy proves it has a lot of meat to its bones.
Establishing the Bully
The idea of meat is immediately established in Piggy‘s opening sequence. Alternating between its opening credits and close-ups of sharpening knives, intestines, and scraping of a cutting board, audiences will know they are in a butcher shop long before the wide shots begin. And while the shop aligns with the film’s title, Piggy uses it to effectively establish an “us” and “them” perspective, dividing the youth that Sara belongs to from herself. Sara works in the Butcher shop with her parents. Seen studying, it feels more like a place where her parents can keep an eye out for her. Yet, as we watch Sara look on at her fellow classmates outside, it is also a barrier.
As Claudia (Irene Ferreiro)and her friend enter, the barrier of the butcher shop become clear, the two girls taking photos of Sarah behind the counter with her family, hash-tagging them on Instagram as the “Three Little Pigs”. Piggy is not afraid to let the bullying show, especially as the girls and local boys take their bullying to brutal heights of assault. And while in the presence of Sara’s parents the bullying is confined to social media, when no one is around, Sara is served up for the slaughter by her peers.
Piggy spends a solid amount of its runtime establishing the depths of the bullying Sara endures, allowing viewers not only to become witnesses themselves but to understand how long she has been suffering from their treatment. Effectively investing the audience in Sara’s plight, there is almost a feeling of relief as her bullys disappear, with little blame to be given to Sara – who watches as the agony of her life is taken away.
Taking in Your Surroundings
Piggy is a slow burn with an incredible payoff. It is not in a rush to alleviate the uncomfortableness associated with Sara’s bullying or to give any answers as to what has happened to the girls that have disappeared – or what will happen to Sara. Piggy wants you to squirm, even more so as the film continues. Yet it does not only want you to bear witness to Sara’s bullying or omission but also the environment Sara is in.
Piggy captures small-town hysteria beautifully. Fingers are always being pointed, with fake facades to boot. There is little hesitation in placing the blame on one person, even with no evidence to corroborate the accusation. And as one begins to churn the rumor mill, others join in hyping the possibility and fueling the flames. As Pedro (José Pastor) states at one point, “you know how this town is”.
Yet, it is not only the hysteria of a town but the contradicting disregard of those older. Too often, we see Sara’s mother both encourage her to go out, yet scorning her for doing so. She never seems to be able to make the right decision. Yet, it is not just Sara, as one of the police officers is constantly disregarded by his father in his handling of the case. Where he is methodic, his father is community driven. Piggy heightens how deeply Sarah and the officer are disregarded for both their opinions and their perspectives, making this a deeply affecting horror.
Conclusion: Piggy
Piggy is a slow burn with an epically gruesome payoff. Between cinematography, setting, and gore, it feels the likes of Hostel and Prom Night, yet finds depth in Sara’s story. With an awareness of its own ideas on self-preservation and survival, Piggy excels.
Have you seen Piggy? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Piggy will be released on October 14, 2022 in theaters and VOD!
Watch Piggy
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