PIGGY is a horror movie from Spain (org. title Cerdita). It has all the makings of a classic horror movie, but also offers quite a twist. Equal parts revenge story and bloody horror, you’ll want to watch this. Read our full Piggy movie review here!

PIGGY is a new Spanish horror movie (org. title Cerdita) that you do not want to miss. Parts of this is about terrible teen bullying, but then it also goes into something that feels straight out of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The poster alone gives you a pretty good indication that this story will end in blood. Lots and lots of blood.

You could also describe this movie as a revenge horror story, but that almost feels too simple. No, actually, it is too simple. Still, if you like revenge horror movies, you should enjoy this.

Continue reading our Piggy movie review below.

Based on a short film

Piggy is based on the writer/director’s own short film Cerdita from 2018, which was just 14 minutes long and had the same actor in the lead. The short film won many awards at film festivals all over the world and most definitely deserved every single one of them.

If you want to check out the short film, you can watch it online for free. We’ve included it at the bottom of this review.

Watch the Cerdita short film that Piggy is based on

Click here to go to the Cerdita short film >

Obviously, the short film does spoil events that take place in the feature film version. However, the story and characters are much more developed in the feature film which has a runtime of 90 minutes as opposed to the short film with just 14 minutes.

Piggy (2022) – Review | Spanish Horror Movie

The brilliant Laura Galán

What might be most impressive, is that the same actor has repeated her role as Sara. Her name is Laura Galán and she is astonishing. We’ve actually already seen her in other productions as well. So have you, if you’ve watched the brilliant Netflix genre hybrid Unknown Origins.

For the record, Laura Galán was born in 1986, so the fact that she can play a teen convincingly is impressive enough in itself. That she plays the same role twice over the span of five years (give or take) is just breathtaking. Until I looked her up to check out what else I could watch her in, I had no idea she wasn’t a teenager.

It’s Orphan-level magic, but without any special effects.

And yes, I realize I am saying very little about the actual movie, but that’s because I would spoil the whole thing. You will definitely want to experience how Piggy evolves for yourself.

Watch Piggy in theaters or On-Demand

Carlota Pereda is the writer and director of Piggy, which is her feature film debut as a solo director. Having directed several other short films (including the one this is based on) already – as well as episodes of various TV series – it’s obvious that Carlota Pereda is more than ready (and capable) of directing feature films.

This movie is definitely one that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. It makes quite the impact – both the personal story and the gore – which stays with you.

Basically, Piggy has everything you need in a classic horror movie. And then some. The twist including both bullying, revenge, and a stranger-coming-to-aid, which makes this so much more than what you see on the surface. With equal parts revenge story and very bloody horror, you’ll want to watch this.

Piggy (org. title Cerdita) opens exclusively at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas on October 7, 2022. Additional theaters, as well as VOD, start on October 14, 2022.

Details

Director: Carlota Pereda
Cast: Laura Galán, Richard Holmes, Carmen Machi, Irene Ferreiro & Camielle Aguilar, with the special collaborations of Pilar Castro & Claudia Salas
Release Dates: October 7, 2022 (Exclusively in Alamo Drafthouse Theaters), October 14, 2022 (Theatrical/VOD)

Plot

With the summer sun beating down on her rural Spanish town, Sara hides away in her parent’s butcher shop. A teenager whose excess weight makes her the target of incessant bullying, she flees a clique of capricious girls who torment her at the town pool, only to stumble upon them being brutally kidnapped by a stranger, who drives off with them in his van. When the police begin asking questions, Sara keeps quiet. Intrigued by the stranger — an interest that’s mutual — she’s torn between revealing the truth and protecting the man who saved her.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
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