Reviews

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  ★★★★ review by RJMS on Letterboxd

  After watching Adam Mason's off-the-radar film - Pig, you'll feel like you've been through just as much as an ordeal as the unfortunate victims in the film.

  If you've never heard of Pig, then I am not surprised - unless you are fan of Mason's previous work (Broken, Luster, Blood River) or just a horror film fan in general, then Pig was hidden from the mainstream audiences.

  Pig was released on line in 2010 and having finally seen it, I have to say it was worth the wait.

  A gruelling 80 odd minutes in the life of an absolute lunatic, such is the rampant display of cruelty and madness that it numbs you by about the forty minute mark and almost downright bores you for the next twenty - a pretty sad indictment on me personally and probably that was Mason's intent. It is all to set you up for the twist at the end....and it stings.

  I won't be spoiling the twist for anyone but suffice to say it is a real kick to guts, considering what has gone before it, it certainly does cut to your core.

  What is highly impressive from a technical point of view is that the majority of Pig is taken in one shot with no edits. Given the effects used, the blood, the gore and everything else, this improv film was certainly planned out meticulously and it shows.

  The mostly (nearly all) improv script is brought to life with a cracking performance from Andrew Howard. His maniac is white-hot rage wrapped up in intense, intelligent package and given what he had to do and for how long in this film, it is up there with some of the best acting I've seen, as unpleasant as the character is.

  Pig is not for the mainstream viewers but certainly one that will reward those who seek it out.

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