'Pig Hill' Review: Kevin Lewis’ Latest Horror Delivers Shock and Gore
- Becca Johnson
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Becca Johnson - August 23, 2025
Directed by Kevin Lewis, whose recent work Willy’s Wonderland (2021) and The Accursed (2022) have certainly put his name on the map, Pig Hill is the latest horror flick to enter his filmography. Starring Rainey Qualley (Shut In) in the leading role as Carrie, a woman who has been fascinated by the local legend by the pig people of Pig Hill - revolting creatures who breed and cause havoc in the area. As the tenth woman goes missing, Carrie can’t stop thinking that there could be more to these stories.
Effective in its grotesque nature and disturbing qualities, Pig Hill boasts a welcome if predictable twist and great sound design, but its proclivity for shock factor and occasionally wooden performances prevent it from impressing too greatly.
If one thing can be taken away from Pig Hill, it’s that it will very likely disturb you. Featuring many taboo subjects that deserve to be viewed as a trigger warning, it is at no time an easy watch. Our missing female characters are certainly put through the ringer, and the script doesn’t hold back with what it tells or shows. From grimy locations to the most heinous of acts, it’s the type of film that makes you want to take a warm shower afterwards… and probably forget about what you’ve just witnessed. The sound design is perhaps the most effective element, adding an extra layer of eeriness to the supposed ‘pig people’. The snorting and grunting is the nail in the coffin of what was already a grizzly ordeal. Though the plot itself is fairly straightforward, it does feature a third act twist that turns it into a different beast entirely. Though it’s easy to see coming for avid mystery thriller viewers, it certainly makes the overall mystery element that bit more intriguing. Though, this isn’t going to work for everyone.
There is a very distinct line within the horror genre between being scared and being shocked or disturbed, which Pig Hill unfortunately falls straight through. Although it undeniably features many scenes that are grimace-worthy and hard to get through, this doesn’t make it a success. Often exploitative and off-putting rather than inviting with its scares, it can’t help but feel like it’s purely going for shock factor, which diminishes any real moments of fear or tension. Most horror fans agree that they’d like to be freaked out, creeped out or even scared senseless when watching a horror movie, but this doesn’t mean they want to sit through graphic wicked acts. For viewers who like their horror flicks on the exploitative side, Pig Hill may work well, but it shows more than it needs to in order to be effective, which will lose many viewers along the way.
Rainey Qualley and Shiloh Fernandez (Evil Dead) are certainly seasoned actors, particularly within the horror genre where both have been prominent figures in the past. Their performances during Pig Hill aren’t necessarily bad, but they’re not entirely memorable, either. Lacking the complex emotion needed to make this script soar, the pair do manage to propose a believable sibling bond but falter where the urgency is concerned. Though this slightly wooden approach actually aids them when delivering the heavier scenes that require the ‘freeze’ response, they do leave much to be desired and wind up being serviceable rather than memorable. Qualley’s character Carrie goes through quite the ordeal during the film, and though her performance becomes more impressive as the run-time progresses, it doesn’t quite hit the heights we expect. The same can be said for Fernandez, whose over-the-top performance gives away some key plot points too early.
Final Verdict: Pig Hill Appeals to Shock-Seeking Horror Enthusiasts
Pig Hill does have some very solid ideas surrounding local legends and folklore, and has plenty of icky features for horror fans who like to be disturbed rather than scared. The actors try their best, and the horror imagery is certainly shocking and unique, but by heading towards exploitative shock factor rather than genuine scares and tension, Pig Hill will appeal to only a small pool of genre fans.
'Pig Hill' premiered at Frightfest London 2025 August 23
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