Pig Killer is a film that attempts to delve into the dark and disturbing world of Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton, but falls short on several fronts. The overall execution of the movie leaves much to be desired, making it an unsatisfying melodramatic experience.
One of the most glaring issues with Pig Killer is its use of a classic 80s soundtrack blaring non stop. While the intention might have been to create an atmosphere of nostalgia, it instead comes across as intrusive and out of place. The jarring juxtaposition of upbeat tunes with the grim subject matter becomes a constant distraction and interrupts any attempt at building tension or conveying the gravity of the story.
Perhaps the filmmakers were aiming for a gritty, exploitation-style approach to the narrative, akin to The Scary of Sixty-First. However, unlike The Scary of Sixty-First, which successfully captured the essence of exploitation films, Pig Killer fails to find the right balance. The tone of the movie wavers, never quite settling into a consistent style, leaving the audience unsure of what to expect or feel.
If you're gonna go full trashy like the exploitation films of yesteryear then why was there so much horrible melodrama? In the end, Pig Killer is a film that doesn't live up to its potential. The 2 hour run time didn't do much for it either - would love to see it recut to an hour and a half & see if it helps with the tone of the flick but for now it's a lot of missed potential.
