Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho's first animated feature primarily depicts the rough-and-tumble day-to-day lives of three middle school boys—crybaby Hwang Kyung-mi, his best friend Jung Jong-suk, and their rabid savior Kim Chul—who are seemingly abused by upper-class tormentors every day at school with homophobic degradation, belt whippings, and profuse death threats that take place in a facility apparently short on staff (and actual academics). Hwang and Jung are taken under the dark tutelage of Kim, who explains that the only way to battle evil is to become evil, leading to the prolonged knifing of a stray cat that, in the end, proves pointless when Kim decides that he needs to cool off and try thinking about others for a change. This late turning point is the closest that Sang-ho comes to actual character development, as the rest of the film is stuffed with shoehorned melodramatics, forced attempts at profundity, inconsistent metaphors, and enough unending, one-note viciousness to weary even the most hardened soul. While the closing message can be appreciated, there is simply not enough light here to give worthwhile definition and weight to the darkness. Not recommended. (J. Cruz)
The King of Pigs
Olive, 97 min., in Korean w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $24.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 Volume 32, Issue 1
The King of Pigs
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