PopHorror Let's Get Scared
As of late, I’ve noticed that the public perception of Nicolas Cage seems to be entering a re-evaluation. More and more people on social media seem to be shifting from the old school stereotyping of Cage being a meme machine and learning about his genuine talent at his work.
Remember the bees?
If you’ve ever needed concrete proof from his most recent films that Cage not only still has got it but never lost it, watch his newest film, Pig, from director Michael Sarnoski, in his feature film debut.
Synopsis for Pig:
A truffle hunter who lives alone in the Oregonian wilderness must return to his past in Portland in search of his beloved foraging pig after she is kidnapped.
It would be fair to assume from the trailer that this is, “Nic Cage goes John Wick for a pig.” I’ll be honest… when I saw the trailer, that’s what I went in expecting. I was wrong and glad to be proven so. Cage gives a subdued yet emotionally raw performance here. When you expect meltdowns and violence, he defies expectations as a non-violent, focused, almost Zen-like protagonist. He’s mad, and he’s determined, but he’s not on a path of destruction, just one of reclamation. Alongside Amir, played by Alex Wolff (likely best recognized by horror fans from Hereditary – read our review here), his young truffle buyer/distributor, they piece together the mystery of who took the pig.
The film’s John Wick parallels don’t just lie in the potential revenge elements, however. As Amir and Cage’s character, Rob, progress in their journey, more of Rob’s past is revealed slowly and subtly through character interaction and worldbuilding. Rather than a world filled to the brim with assassins in every walk of life, the Portland in the film is largely adjacent to ours, with Rob giving us access to the dark side of the culinary world: the strain of fame and notoriety and an ongoing class battle that exists in a microcosm just behind your favorite restaurant’s store room.
Taking a cue from more recent films he’s done like Willy’s Wonderland (2021 – read our review here), Cage continues to explore and deliver performances that are largely non-verbal. Like Silent Bob in a Kevin Smith movie, Cage’s character is quiet for the most part, but when he does speak, he finds a way to cut to the truth of a person and a situation, so you best listen. While Cage is the focus of the film, Wolff’s performance as Amir works well alongside Cage’s Rob. You can feel and see his bravado and insecurity as well as character growth while working with Rob on this journey. Both characters and actors bounce well off each other, and it works splendidly for Pig. Like any story of emotional growth, their journey is not easy by any means, but the actors give it their all, right down to a tense finale set—where else—but at a dining table, the abandoned former domain of Rob.
Ultimately, Pig is not a film of revenge, but truth of self and finding what keeps one going when the rest of the world wants you to change to fit them. Pig, much like the Cage performance within, may not be what you expect, but I implore you to give it a shot. You may find it just as cathartic as the movie you presumed it was. Plus, the pig is downright adorable. You’ll understand Cage’s motivation even if you don’t like pigs.
Pig releases in theaters July 16, 2021, through distribution by NEON.
