Piggy (Cerdita) showcases how horror movies can excel at delivering social commentary and presenting moral dilemmas. The whole town seems to bully Sara because she is overweight. One day, she runs into a trio of girls who are particularly hard on her. As she is running home, she sees them being brutally kidnapped. When the police start investigating the disappearance, Sara must decide whether to say something or leave the girls who mercilessly tormented her to their own fates.
With just a few scenes, writer-director Carlota Pereda highlights the horrors of bullying. Sara is so scared she cannot even look people in the eye. The girls who tease her at the pool are mean and absolutely frightening. The scene borders on being over the top, but instead makes the audience feel for Sara. When the kidnapping occurs, there is almost a sense of comeuppance. Piggy puts the audience in Sara’s head during that moment. It is an excellent piece of storytelling that gets over the moral conundrum of the film. When looked at from the victim’s perspective, it is easy to see why there is not a rush to call the authorities.
The first two-thirds of the film are very tense. There is the constant question of what Sara will do. Along with the internal struggles of the main character, others in town are getting closer to the truth. The story almost becomes a mystery at this point. Piggy also adds something of a twisted love story along the way. The plot can go in a number of interesting directions at this point.
![[Sundance '22] 'Piggy (Cerdita)' review: Just desserts](https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/piggy.png?resize=740%2C427&ssl=1 "piggy")
Regrettably, Piggy loses its way during the final act. Things become too muddled and Sara becomes very inconsistent. While it does fit the character, it is handled poorly. She literally changes her attitude multiple times in seconds. This is especially disappointing since the movie does a lot of interesting things in the final moments. Still, it is smart enough to get over these missteps and is a powerful watch.
The Sundance Film Festival is online January 20- January 30. Tickets can be purchased and a full lineup can be found here.
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