Tags:
Film: Pig Hill
Year: 2025
Director: Kevin Lewis
Writer: Jarrod Burris
Starring: Rainey Qualley, Shane West and Shiloh Fernandez
Review:
This was a film that I got the chance to see via screener thanks to Keir from Strike Media. This was playing at FrightFest, which added to my intrigue. Knowing that this was a 2025 horror film was something else that contributed. I did see that this starred Shiloh Fernandez as well. Other than that, I came blind. I also gave it a rewatch as it played at Nightmares Film Festival.
Synopsis: Carrie (Rainey Qualley) has been fascinated by the local legend of the pig people of Pig Hill, revolting creatures who breed and cause havoc in the area. As the tenth woman goes missing, Carrie can’t stop thinking that there could be more to the stories.
We start this with a cold open. A couple stops on Pig Hill. The male is not from here and Emily Barton (Emma Kotos) brings up the pig people. He doesn’t know about the lore. He then gets out of the car looking for his buddy. These two are then attacked by a pig person.
Carrie (Rainey Qualley) then narrates the backstory, writing a book about the people of the hill and the ten missing women, Emily being the most recent. Her brother, Chris (Fernandez), initially joked about the lore when they were growing up, but it became her obsession. She's married to his estranged business partner and best friend.
Now Carrie works in a local bookstore. It is here she meets Andy (Shane West). He’s dealing with his own issues, having been living in New York City and returned recently. His mother isn’t well so he’s here to help his father. Carrie and he hit it off, getting a drink together. This upsets Chris. It doesn’t help that Carrie’s husband kills himself and Andy shows up to the funeral. Chris is protective over her, even lashing out at a homeless man she is friends with Reggie (Jeff Monahan).
Things get turned upside down for Carrie. She volunteers at a homeless shelter overnight. It is there she meets Paula (Isabella Brenza). She is pregnant and asks for Carrie’s help. She wants to abort it. Carrie points out that she’s too far along. She takes matters into her own hands, claiming the father is a pig person. Carrie sees the baby who looks to has pig features. What happens next rattles her to her core.
Andy and Carrie get closer, much to the displeasure of Chris. The couple go up to Pig Hill to see if they can find Paula’s father Red (R.A. Mihailoff). Instead, they run into Giovanni Vendetti (Dino Tripodis), who gives more insight into the pig people lore. Carrie has been seeing a pig person stalking her. After Andy drops her off at home, Carrie is taken and plunges into a nightmare that will change her forever, as she discovers the truth of the pig people.
That is where I’ll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start is that this film went to some places that I wasn’t fully expecting. I’d say that is both good and bad. To start with the positives, I love the idea that there could be this weird hybrid of pig people living in the wilds on this hill. No one wants to talk about it. It sounds farfetched. There is more going on here under the surface. I love playing with the expectations of generational trauma as an element of this.
Then to develop this more without going into spoilers. Similar to The Hills Have Eyes or The Offspring, this story features pig-like creatures who kidnap women. This seems in part for procreation, but also for pleasure with things we learn. The plot further explores elements reminiscent of the "Satanic Panic" era, revealing cult-like activities that are heartbreaking and explanatory, yet inexcusable. That is where I want to leave these ideas.
Now something else that I like is Carrie wanting to write a book. She doesn’t fully believe there are pig people. The extent that she does is that she can’t disprove the theory yet. She’s more intrigued by the unexplained disappearances. With things that she experiences, she starts to believe the legends are real. There were little interesting things along the journey that made me sit up so credit for that.
That should be enough for the story to transition over to the acting performances. Qualley delivers a strong performance as the determined lead, believably navigating trauma to uncover the truth. I was pleasantly surprised by West's snarky role, an actor I’m a fan of. My only issue is Fernandez, who, while not a bad actor, plays an overbearing character I dislike. His performance worked for what was needed. The supporting cast effectively rounds out the film with credit to Kotos, Mihailoff, Olivia Allen, Brenza and Monahan.
All that is left when would be the filmmaking aspects. I have to first give credit to the practical effects. This goes brutal and I appreciate that. My guess is that if there is CGI, it was blended well so credit there. This has tough subject matter with things that we see as well. I will say that the cinematography and framing are good to not only capture the area where it is set up, giving that small town feel. It also helps with the realism of the effects. Other than that, the sound design adds to the atmosphere. The musical selections also work.
In conclusion, this delivers a unique and disturbing horror experience. While its narrative takes some unexpected turns, the film excels in its portrayal of the unsettling pig people lore and the exploration of generational trauma. Strong performances, particularly from Qualley and West, and effective practical effects further elevate the viewing experience. Despite minor gripes, the filmmaking aspects effectively build a tense and atmospheric small-town horror.
My Rating: 7 out of 10