The ending of the 2021 Nicolas Cage movie Pig explained its core objective of subverting viewers expectations by rejecting any violent conflict and, consequently, a conventional climax. The story of Pig could have gone down the John Wick path as Rob (Cage), a retired chef living in the depths of the Oregon forest, sets out to the city in search of his beloved companion a pig, stolen by violent delinquents. However, instead of finishing on a violent crescendo, Pig offers a relevant anti-revenge message and comes full circle by the end as Rob accepts his grief without retaliating.

In the end, Rob doesnt get his pig back, and his enemies get away, but thats irrelevant when compared to Pig's real purpose: learning to make peace with the past. Pig was one of the best movies of 2021, although it requires patience from the audience. After Rob's pig is stolen, the film takes...