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I’m not one for the horror flicks these days here in middle-aged-boiler-gut territory, but I was compelled to see Pig Hunt as it was exec-produced by Robert Mailer Anderson, his better half Nicola Miner, and about a hundred other folks according to the credits. Okay about 8. Mr. Anderson has a cameo role as well.
The general plot is not unusual: five pseudo-yuppies from the city (San Francisco) decide to go hunting at John’s (the protagonist) uncle’s ranch in Mendocino County (presumably near Boonville as one of the locals speaks Boontling). John used to live there and is known to the locals. Two of the local hillbillies decide to tag along. From there it’s bad news for all involved as there’s treachery, retaliation, and the possibility of a 3,000 lb porcine behemoth in their midst.
Those who have read Mr. Anderson’s “Boonville” (a copy of which sits on the nightstand at about 3:25 into the movie) will see a few similarities between the characters between “Boonville” and Pig Hunt: Hap and Charlie the storekeeper (played by the most excellent bluesman Charlie Musselwhite); Daryl and Jake; Kurts and Ricky; Aslan and the hippie stranger, etc. And like “Boonville”, Pig Hunt is full of stereotypes: angry black dude, nerdy inept white guy, dumb and violent rednecks, asian chick doing tai chi on the steps of the general store, and weird-for-no-freaking-reason hippies.
None of it really matters because it’s not high art, it’s a horror flick. Despite some awkward flow now and then throughout the movie, horror fans are pretty much getting what they want. Add to that a pretty decent soundtrack featuring Les Claypool (who also makes a cameo) and you have a worthwhile horror film.