Warning: possible spoilers ahead for Pig (released in July 2021, starring Nicholas Cage)
Pig is the directorial debut of Michael Samoski. After reading the Rotten Tomatoes plot synopsis (“Living alone in the Oregon wilderness, a truffle hunter returns to Portland to find the person who stole his beloved pig”), I went in expecting a violent action thriller similar to John Wick; what I encountered instead was a slow paced drama.
Critics seem to love the film (as evidenced by the 97% Tomatometer approval), but during my viewing, I couldn’t help but notice that parts of Pig felt off. For example, it’s unrealistic how Robin (played by Nicholas Cage) was able to go all over the rich part of Portland looking so dirty and bloody. This is especially true when he stops to chat with the young boy living in his old abode. (Any parent seeing their child conversing with such a shady character would definitely go bonkers.)
The underground fight club was also confusing. Instead of having an actual boxing match, it seemed like one person was there just to act as a paid punching bag and nothing more.
Even though the film dragged its feet at times (the running time definitely felt much longer than 92 minutes), the plot is unique. The praise for Nicholas Cage’s and Alex Wolff’s acting is also warranted. Last but not least, I liked how the ending was bittersweet. If you are in the mood for a classy arthouse film, I’d recommend Pig, but if you’re looking for some heart-pumping violence, I’d stay far far away.
