Kevin Lewis explores legend and unease in Pig Hill.
Some horror films rely on shock value. Others burrow under your skin and refuse to leave. Pig Hill, directed by Kevin Lewis, falls into the latter camp. It blends unsettling folklore, psychological tension, and creature-driven dread, creating a film that lingers long after the credits roll.
Inspired by regional legend and rooted in atmosphere rather than excess, Pig Hill follows Carrie. She is a woman obsessed with stories about the so-called pig people of Pig Hill—grotesque creatures said to breed in secret and wreak havoc on the area. As a tenth woman goes missing, Carrie begins to suspect the folklore may be more real than anyone wants to admit.
Starring Shane West, Rainey Qualley, Shiloh Fernandez, and R.A. Mihailoff, the film continues Lewis’s genre-bending streak. Known for consistently finding a devoted audience within the horror community, Lewis adds another unique project to his filmography with Pig Hill.
This tension between fear and restraint is at the heart of Pig Hill—something director Kevin Lewis discussed during a recent conversation with Nerdtropolis, where he reflected on his motivations for taking on the project and why this story resonated now.
A Folklore Hook That Refused to Let Go
According to Lewis, his connection to Pig Hill began with the script. Jared Burst’s screenplay, based on Nancy Williams’ novel, immediately caught his attention with its distinctiveness. “Well, you know, I read Jared Burst’s script—it was fantastic,” Lewis said. “And then it was based on Nancy Williams’ book, which was great. But really, the third act threw me for a loop.”
That final stretch became the film’s creative north star. “I was like, man, if I can do this right and get the locomotive going down the track where this all makes sense, this third act could really be something,” he said. “That’s really what inspired me.”
Beyond structure, it was the idea of real folklore—stories passed down through generations—that sealed the deal for Lewis. “It’s real folklore,” he explained. “People grew up with this legend. It kind of lives in the community. That was really interesting to me.”
Letting Legends Live in the Subconscious
While Pig Hill draws from a specific mythos, Lewis said his fascination with legends goes back to childhood.“I’m OG,” he said with a laugh. “Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot—all that stuff.”
Lewis finds excitement in how these stories transform over time. “They seep into the subconscious over the years,” he said. “People come up with their own imagery and ideas of what it is, and it kind of takes a life of its own.”
That idea—fear shaped by imagination—became a key thematic thread in Pig Hill. One main takeaway is that Pig Hill uses folklore not just for scares, but to explore how personal and communal fears grow over time.
Festival Reactions and the Power of Unease
As Pig Hill toured the festival circuit, Lewis observed that audiences often arrived with expectations shaped by his previous work, particularly Willy’s Wonderland.
“They think it may be another Willy’s Wonderland, and then they go in, and it’s something really different,” he said.
While Pig Hill shares certain visual DNA, Lewis was clear about his intent. “This is more of a psychological horror and drama,” he said. “That’s what I was excited about.” One clear lesson is that the film aims for psychological impact over gore, as the strongest reactions were not screams but silence. “I’ve had people say, ‘Man, I just can’t get that movie out of my head,’” Lewis said. “That’s the best compliment ever.”
Lessons From ‘Willy’s Wonderland’ and Loving the Fans
Lewis credits Willy’s Wonderland with reinforcing something he already believed: horror fans matter. “I just love the fans,” he said. “Horror has the best fans, and they’re very forgiving.”
That mindset shapes every decision he makes. “I’m always trying to put myself in as a fan,” Lewis said. “Would I want to see this movie? You’re asking someone to give you two hours of their time. I take that seriously.” It’s also why he embraces bold choices. “This movie’s about a janitor fighting an eight-foot animatronic orange weasel,” Lewis recalled saying on set. “Nothing’s off the table.”
Building the Look and the Creature
The pig people themselves were never an afterthought. Lewis worked closely with renowned creature designer Jason Baker, known for his work on The Black Phone and Terrifier 3.
“I was always stressing over that,” Lewis admitted. Creating something iconic—something that stands the test of time—remained paramount in his mind.
The visual palette draws on an eclectic mix. “There’s a lot of Dario Argento, Italian giallo vibes,” Lewis said. “I was listening to The Cure—this beautiful melancholy. There’s also David Lynch, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks.”
Knowing When to Hold Back
Despite the film’s disturbing subject matter, Lewis said restraint was essential. “One of my favorite movies is The Shining,” he noted, highlighting its psychological approach to horror.
Story always drives the line for Lewis. “I’m not a huge gore fan just for gore,” he said. He believes what happens in the audience’s imagination often fills in the gaps. That philosophy guided some of the film’s most difficult moments. “You have to show it,” he said, “but you also have to know why you’re showing it.”
Indie Filmmaking and Trusting Your Gut
Some of Pig Hill’s most effective sequences came from necessity. “The weather was freezing, we didn’t have lights, and we were running out of time,” Lewis recalled of one pig farm scene.
Instead of forcing it, he leaned into the mood. “I just did this X-Files-ish walk-and-talk,” he said. “People weren’t sure it would work, but you’ve got to go with your gut.” That moment has since become a fan favorite.
Horror as Human Drama
Lewis sees horror not merely as escapism, but as a mirror. “Great horror is great drama,” he said. “It’s about the human condition and tapping into fear.” That perspective continues to guide his career. “All my films find a following that grows every year,” Lewis said. “That means everything to me. I’m making movies for the fans because I’m one of them.”
What’s Next for Kevin Lewis
Lewis isn’t slowing down. He teased three upcoming projects: Oak, a teen horror film; Misdirection, a noir thriller starring Frank Grillo and Olga Kurylenko; and Driver, a ’90s-set horror ride centered around a prom night gone wrong. “I’m thinking about whether the fans are going to dig this,” Lewis said. “That’s the gas in the tank for me.”
Pig Hill is now available on VOD from Cineverse.
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Sean Tajipour
Sean Tajipour is the Founder and Editor of Nerdtropolis and the host of the Moviegoers Society and Reel Insights Podcast. He is also a member of the Critics Choice Association. You can follow on Twitter and Instagram @Seantaj.
