Dir. Carlota Martínez-Pereda | Now Streaming On: Shudder | Rating: 4/5

I very responsibly waited for this to start streaming rather than pirating it. This came highly recommended by Suzie at Horror Movie Weekly and Poppy at howmanyfilmsinayear so I had a good feeling this would not disappoint. 

Piggy is a raw and unflinching account of bullying and abuse. I’ve always been plus-sized, even when I was very young, so this film felt especially visceral for me. You don’t need to relate to Sara’s point of view to feel for her. She is an awkward and stifled teenager, who can’t escape ridicule for her weight. Any decent human with a shred of empathy can find themselves flinching at the horrible treatment of Sara. 

This film also toys with the ideas of revenge and compassion. We all have people in our lives who have wronged us. What would you do if that person was at their most vulnerable point and you were the only one who could help? Piggy grapples with this heavy decision from the point of view of a teenager, who knows nothing but being an outsider. I can’t say I would’ve made the same decision as Sara did in this film – would you?

The performances in the film are committed and believable. Laura Galan embodies Sara’s vulnerability and anger in the most palpable way. Piggy does lose itself between the midway point and its climax. The story stumbled to its finish and would have benefitted from being about 20 minutes shorter. But once the climax finally does come, it is one that you will not forget. This film is akin to Carrie, showing us another side of the same coin. 

Bloody, unforgettable, and female driven – Piggy is one of the heaviest hitters of 2022. 

Know Before You Watch: Features blood, death, gore.