Piggy (2022)

“Piggy” (Spanish: “Cerdita”) is a 2022 horror thriller film written and directed by Carlota Pereda. It is based on her 2019 short film of the same name. The movie stars Laura Galán, who reprises her role from the short film, alongside Richard Holmes, Carmen Machi, Claudia Salas, Irene Ferreiro, Camille Aguilar, and Pilar Castro.

Production:

The main shooting location for “Piggy” was Villanueva de la Vera in northeastern Extremadura, Spain. It marks Carlota Pereda's feature film debut and is based on her award-winning short film, which received the Goya Award and the Forqué Award for Best Short Film in 2019. The feature film retained Laura Galán from the short film and also added Richard Holmes, Carmen Machi, Claudia Salas, Irene Ferreiro, Camille Aguilar, José Pastor, Pilar Castro, and Chema del Barco to the cast. The cinematography was handled by Rita Noriega.

The film is a co-production between Spain and France with a budget of €2.5 million. It was produced by Morena Films, Backup Studio, and Cerdita AIE in association with La Banque Postale and Indéfilms, with participation from RTVE and Movistar+. The project received support from the Junta de Extremadura, Eurimages, Creative Europe's MEDIA sub-programme, and the Madrid regional administration. The film prominently features the white color C15, a symbol of rural Spain. Filming took place from June to July 2021 in Villanueva de la Vera and its surroundings.

Release:

“Piggy” had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2022. It also premiered at the FrightFest in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2022, and the San Sebastián International Film Festival in September 2022. The film was distributed by Filmax in Spain on October 14, 2022, and by Backup Media in France on November 2, 2022. Magnet Releasing acquired the North American rights, while Vertigo Releasing secured the rights for the United Kingdom and Ireland. The film also secured distribution deals in several other countries.

Popularity:

On Rotten Tomatoes, “Piggy” holds a 92% approval rating based on reviews from 95 critics, with an average rating of 7.30/10. The consensus on the website states, “Brought hauntingly to life by Laura Galán's committed performance, Piggy deftly deploys genre thrills in service of sharp social commentary.” Jonathan Holland of Screen Daily praised the film's blend of thriller, rural drama, and comedy, noting its atmospheric and thought-provoking qualities. Guy Lodge of Variety compared the film's artistic sensibilities to Catherine Breillat and Brian De Palma, highlighting the unsettling journey of the protagonist and the bloody climax. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter commended Carmen Machi's performance and lauded Laura Galán's riveting portrayal, considering her the driving force behind the film's disturbing psychological drama and blood-drenched horror.