Truffle hunters will camp out on their porches at night, shotgun in hand, to fend off competing hunters trying to steal their valuable pigs and dogs. What? That was one of those facts that felt otherworldly yet immediately relatable to me, and that’s where PIG started.
Michael Sarnoski – director, PIG
Prior to watching PIG, I never knew that pigs were used for locating the scent of truffles. But I could relate and do understand the bond that forms with a beloved animal – anyone who knows me personally can attest that I still have mournful moments and cherished thoughts of my first pet Solomon, who died in 2016.
And I am also a fan of anything hyphenated with the thriller genre, so I was super excited with the premise of this described drama/thriller and eager to screen.
In “Pig,” Nicolas Cage stars as Rob, a retired chef/widower, who leads a simple life searching for truffles in the Oregonian wilderness with his pet pig “Apple.” When he is assaulted and Apple is kidnapped by unknown assailants, Rob goes on a mission to find out who’s behind the act and recover her.
If you’re waiting for me to type any kind of “chaos ensues…” sentence, you can stop right there because, unfortunately for action lovers, this is not that kind of film – although there are some heightened scenes that involve a bit of thrill.
But “Pig” is not a “Nobody” or “John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum” type of fare – even though a character questions exactly who Rob is, similar to a line in “Nobody,” and there’s a hidden dwelling similar to that secret city in the last Wick – albeit not a fantasy location.
Instead, we get a really solid character-driven narrative and arguably Cage’s best and most nuanced performance in years.
A film with more brain than brawn, “Pig” ultimately delivers a rescue to its main character, just not the way the audience would hope, as Rob exposes the truth with a novel twist and faces the mournful demons that have haunted him since the death of his wife.
This isn’t a film that I would keep in the re-watch queue, but it is a great story with bittersweet messaging. I rate it 3.5 out of 5 on the MMTrometer.
PIG opened in theaters on Friday, July 16.
Until next thought, Thomasena
Music Movies Thoughts 
2 Comments