Review by Jonathan W. Hickman

“Pig” isn’t really a movie about a dangerous search for the prized, truffle-hunting title creature. It’s an extended exploration of grief, with careful attention to the agonizing emotional journey of its three central characters.

The film introduces us to Rob (Nicolas Cage), a lonely truffle hunter who lives a solitary life in the woods. His only companion is his beloved pig with which he plies his specialized, secret trade. The two are inseparable. One day, Rob’s cabin is violently invaded, he’s beaten, and his pig is stolen.

Armed with limited facts, Rob turns to Amir (Alex Wolff) for assistance in investigating the theft. Amir is Rob’s only link to the outside world. He buys truffles from Rob selling them to restaurants in the city. Reluctantly, they form an awkward team, and they dive into the community’s dark culinary underbelly.

What’s unexpected about “Pig” is that it isn’t some kind of action-driven revenge fantasy; instead, director and co-writer Michael Sarnoski is committed to following deeply dramatic themes. We know that a personal loss was the motivating factor in Rob’s migration from the city to an anonymous wilderness-based lifestyle. Alex shares these sorrowful feelings, which causes him to agree to help Rob search for his pig.

The pig itself becomes the focus of both men’s grief. It is as if finding the animal will help them heal in a small way. But, as they progress, dark secrets permeate their desperate quest.

In one scene, the bloodied, homeless-looking Rob sits down for a meal in a trendy inner-city restaurant. As Rob and Amir sample the frothy, overprocessed cuisine, they engage with the establishment’s uncomfortable chef. The man recognizes Rob and instantly grows uncomfortable with feelings of awe and uneasiness. It’s this intriguing exchange that reveals the power Rob once held over the culinary community, and it’s a transcendent bit of psychoanalysis.

With the mystery of Rob and the identity of the pig-thief hanging about, we’re thrust into a strange, gritty, and oddly engaging underground of food and deception. It’s a pretty potent narrative, as we have no idea what might happen next.

Part of the thrill in watching “Pig” is in wondering where Cage might take his character? Few actors working today share Cage’s explosive qualities. And in this movie, we are well aware that descent into violent chaos is possible.

And while Sarnoski does take us to some dark and vicious places, he’s ultimately more interested in internal anguish over external influences. Therefore, don’t expect the Cage we saw in the ultra-violent and awesome “Mandy;” this is very much a restrained version of the actor’s talents. And it makes “Pig” a breath of fresh air.

Wolff is good as the troubled youngster, who shares Rob’s angst. And without spoiling anything, Adam Arkin plays a shadowy powerbroker who factors into the story in a critical scene. Arkin’s work here reminds me of Albert Brooks’ excellent performance against type in Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Drive.”

“Pig” is director Sarnoski’s feature debut. With Cage in the lead, it would have been easy for Sarnoski to lean into action elements leaving the dramatic ones to play second fiddle. But by flipping the script and taking some of his personal feelings (having lost his father when he was young), he delivers a cathartic fairy tale of sorts. It gives us a much-needed break from the Cage craziness that has made the Oscar-winning actor both legendary and the subject of more than one hilarious meme.

Finding one’s way out of the immobilizing effects of grief is impossible for so many of us, but a lucky few manage to get to the other side of the pain. For Rob and Alex, it starts with the theft of a pig.