The Rampage Of A Canadian Killer Hits The Screen With The Gruesome Tale of ‘Pig Killer’ (2023)
True crime fandom has evolved into a distinct subculture where enthusiasts immerse themselves in real-life criminal cases, exploring the intricacies of investigations, legal processes, and the psychology of perpetrators. This fascination often extends beyond podcasts and documentaries, reaching into various forms of media, including literature and television. The appeal lies in the gripping narratives, the pursuit of justice, and the morbid curiosity surrounding the darker aspects of human behavior. Fans engage in discussions, and online forums, and even attend true crime conventions. All of this fandom has created a community that shares a common interest in the macabre, and most likely one of the biggest reasons why we have so many “armchair detectives” all over the internet, looking to be the ones to crack a decades-old cold case.
In the realm of horror movies, the influence of true crime is highly influential to the pop-culture fandom that we all enjoy. Filmmakers have drawn inspiration from real true crime cases to craft some chilling narratives that tap into the collective fear of the killer that may be hiding amongst us. True crime elements bring an unsettling realism to horror, blurring the lines between fiction and actual events of terror. Most horror fans know that the most popular horror franchises inspired by true crime events are ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ and ‘Psycho’, from the terrible things that Ed Gein (The Butcher of Plainfield) did that shocked the world.
These movies often explore the psychological terror of crime, providing audiences with a visceral experience that resonates with the true crime fan’s appetite for the mysterious and eerie. The integration of real-life crime stories into horror films adds a layer of authenticity, intensifying the suspense and making the genre even more compelling for those who tend to find a bit of twisted enjoyment in the darker side of human nature.
Recently I had the opportunity to watch the true crime-inspired movie from Breaking Glass Pictures ‘Pig Killer’. This movie is written and directed by Chad Ferrin. It stars Jake Busey, Lew Temple, Bai Ling, Kate Patel (who is also an executive producer on the movie), Ginger Lynn, Cyril O’Reilly, and many more talented actors who helped bring this terrifying true crime tale to the silver screen. The synopsis of this movie is as follows:
“Based on the terrifying true story of Robert ‘Willy’ Pickton, the pig farmer turned prolific ladykiller, whose horrific crimes shocked the world. ‘Pig Killer’ graphically depicts Pickton’s felonious farmhouse of rape, torture, slaughter, and dismemberment of almost fifty women. With his herculean hog, Balthazar by his side, Will and his menagerie of colorful cohorts terrorized Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for almost two decades until his 2002 arrest that uncovered the most bizarre series of murders that Canada has ever seen.”
This movie is by far one of the most accurate, disgusting, and insane depictions of any horror movie based on true crime you will see. The intense insight into Robert ‘Willy’ Pickton (portrayed by Jake Busey) not only shows you the horrific crimes that he committed but gives you an insane perspective of an insane, yet deranged killer. The story for the movie follows along with the crimes committed by Pickton, the life he leads on his dirty pig farm turned party spot at night, and the psychology of what it would be like to be inside the head of this carnage-fueled Canadian. If you are not familiar with the true crime case of Pickton in Canada during the two decades he brutally murdered his victims to his ultimate capture in 2002, then this movie will answer all your questions about the tragic story of his crimes.
Jake Busey takes a commanding foot forward in his role, going back and forth between the shy and strong pig farm owner, to the sadistic killer he was revealed to be. The range that he provides in this movie should be no surprise, as he has spent the last 44 years gracing us with his talents on screen since the young age of 7. His wide range of acting is well seen in movies such as ‘The Frighteners, ‘The Predator’, and ‘Identity’ (to name a few). The way that he can shift from calm to insane as Pickton in this film truly is one of the many gems of this movie. Busey of course is not the only talented actor in this movie as Kate Patel’s performance as Wendy Eastman is incredible (even more so considering this is one of her first roles). She not only wields the talent of acting in this movie and playing opposite Jake Busey but is also one of the producers in the movie and someone who approached writer/director Chad Ferrin to make this movie in the first place.
Kate Patel shows why she is perfect in this role with every scene she is in playing as either the charming friend, the angry stepdaughter lashing out to a cruel stepmother, the romantic opposite of Pickton, and not to mention the strong final girl of the movie. Patel’s talented acting skills in this movie are a piece of the giant picture that makes this movie grip your attention and keeps you glued to the screen, terrified of missing one moment of the horror-fueled nightmare of a true story. While she and her other cast members (Lew Temple, Bai Ling, Ginger Lynn, and more) play important parts in the way the story unfolds, one of the biggest catalysts for what makes this movie stand out among any true crime horror movie out there is the way that writer/director Chad Ferrin captures the scenes on film.
This movie has a lot of elements when it comes to hitting the marks on what makes a great horror film. It is terrifically crafted and well-filmed gore, a soundtrack that plays perfectly with the mayhem going on during the more gruesome scenes, and overall attention to detail truly appeal to anyone who is a true crime aficionado or a seasoned horror movie fan. There is a dark, gritty, and even lucid way that this movie is shot. It feels like one hell of a fever dream that you’re hoping will cause you to snap out of it and feel safe once again.
There is one scene in particular where you witness one of the victim’s remains being played around with as if Pickton was a kid on Christmas discovering the toy he has wished for under the tree. The way that the angles of this movie close in on his face during the previously mentioned scene or the movie cutting to a wider shot of him during a scene like this honestly makes you sick but intrigued for more. It has a way of making you feel dread of what these victims may have gone through and the way Pickton’s story is being carved out (macabre pun very much intended) before your eyes. It is one hell of a depiction of why this monster was caught by police and served his sentence behind bars.
True movie fans will be gleefully excited to find that there is a post-credit scene in the movie that wraps up the final moments of the film beautifully. If you are familiar with the story of Pickton’s gruesome murder spree, you will greatly enjoy this post-credit scene (no spoilers of course). Don’t get out of your seats too quickly, as you will miss one of the great moments of the movie.
This movie will be one that you will highly recommend to people you know who love true crime, love horror, or maybe new to those genres. It is a gripping, terrifying, and gruesome story that is going to be one you will want to see on the big screen, but also eagerly add to your collection once it is available for purchase. It is one that you may also want to see more than one viewing to see what you may have missed (I have seen this movie a couple of times now and it gets even better the second time around).
‘Pig Killer’ from Breaking Glass Pictures will be available on VOD/Blu-ray on November 21st, and in select theaters on February 17th. Be sure to check out the interview where Macabre Daily sits down with writer/director Chad Ferrin and actress/producer Kate Patel to chat about their experience making this movie, which can be read here.
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