10 Surprisingly Dark Moments In Laika's Missing Link
7. The Optimates Likely Kill All The Time
It may seem as if entries suggesting a history of violence on the part of Piggot-Dunceby and The Optimates are speaking somewhat presumptively. There's a reason for this, and it all comes down to Piggot-Dunceby's tone. When asked by Collick what to do about Frost, Piggot-Dunceby doesn't hesitate for a moment. "Hire a thug to kill him," he says, his tone implying that Collick should already know the answer.
Collick does seem initially shocked by this, but he really shouldn't be. It's obvious that this has happened before, partly because we never see Collick or Piggot-Dunceby searching out a hired hand. Willard Stenk, the sleazy bounty hunter played by Timothy Olyphant, has already been hired to kill Frost by the time he's introduced in the film.
One might assume that Stenk simply has enough of a reputation for his name to be common knowledge, but it's not that simple. Frost explains that Stenk's reputation stems almost entirely from his creature hunting. Since Piggot-Dunceby is surprised to learn that the missing link actually exists, and doubtful of the existence of Nessie, Stenk's penchant for hunting rare creatures isn't likely what drew his name to The Optimates' attention. Why would they trust his ability to hunt creatures that they don't believe to exist in the first place?
The answer is simple: they have a pre-existing relationship. Piggot-Dunceby needs a man who can hunt a human being. If he trusts Stenk's ability to perform the job, it's most likely because he's hired him to do it before. Piggot-Dunceby's order to hire a thug is therefore one in a long line of implications that The Optimates have no shortage of blood on their hands.