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      Pin

      R 1988 1h 43m Horror Mystery & Thriller List
      Reviews 58% 2,500+ Ratings Audience Score Leon (David Hewlett) and Ursula (Cyndy Preston), brother and sister, treat their doctor father's therapeutic dummy like a brother. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      matthias s "Pin" delivers a unique and eery atmosphere that'll give you the creeps, even if it doesn't quite hit the mark. This slow-burn horror flick explores the disturbing bond between brother and sister, forged through trauma and a life-sized medical dummy named Pin. The performances are surprisingly solid, particularly David Hewlett as the troubled brother. The film's slow pace contributes to its unsettling ambiance, but it's a double-edged sword. While it builds tension effectively, you might find yourself yearning for more outright horror elements to punctuate the suspense. What sets "Pin" apart is its exploration of coping mechanisms in the face of traumatic experiences, which adds depth to the narrative. The weird dynamic between the siblings is both fascinating and uncomfortable to watch, making it a standout aspect of the movie. In the end, "Pin" is an acquired taste; its eerie, slow-burning style and unconventional themes might not be for everyone, but it's worth a watch if you're in the mood for something unsettling and psychologically complex. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/15/23 Full Review Tim S Back to the 1980's for the cult psychological thriller "Pin." Cynthia Preston stars as Ursula sister to Leon ( David Hewlett ) who's father is a doctor and mother a clean freak. The doctor has a unique gift of ventriloquism that he uses to great effect when displaying an anatomically correct medical dummy for training purposes. As Leon and Ursula become a little older the doctor uses the dummy and his ventriloquism as a means of communication with his children and to teach them in a sensitive way about different subjects including sex. This is in stark reality to the cold, emotionally distant father he actually is and has used the dummy  called "Pin" to show warmth and care to his children. However after witnessing a nurse using "Pin" for sexual pleasure Leon becomes traumatised and more convinced of Pin's reality.  Due to an obvious mental health disability and in part to his overprotective and overbearing mother Leon is stopped from interacting with other children. Leon becomes more isolated and lonely and almost totally dependant on his sister for company. That is apart from "Pin"who he sees as his friend and confidant. As Leon gets older he needs more and more contact with his friend and regularly sneaks into his fathers surgery to have strange conversations with the dummy. What is clear is the conversations begin to take on a sinister tone with Leon displaying signs of disturbingly dangerous split personality disorder. The more reliant Leon becomes on "Pin" the more dangerous Leon becomes. This leads to the death of his parents as well as the aunt who becomes the appointed guardian to the children. As time passes Leon, "Pin"and Ursula build a close relationship that is unbalanced when Ursula falls in love with someone she meets while working at the local library. With some similarities to Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece "Psycho," "Pin" plays on the horror deriving from an unchecked mental illness that leads to an eventual full psychotic break. There are some good atmospheric moments and the excellent acting elevate this movie a little above other films in the same genre. However there is very little gore and not enough tension built on the is it real or not question to satisfy most horror fans. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member It's far too slow, and very very silly, but I enjoyed this very eighties hybrid of Magic and Psycho. John Waters would have mined the material for more humour and increased the yuk factor. It certainly needs more genuine enjoyment of its intrinsic bad taste, but hey... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Pin is such a amazing movie. It's a 1980's movie and yes it can be silly. However the acting is good and the story works. It's a neat little thriller that has some genuinely creepy moments not just jump scares. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie was as horrible as the book it was taken from. I hated it. Left me feeling sick. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Too 80s for me. Not scary at all, bad acting, etc. The son is such a douche, he just needs 1 good ass kicking to set him straight. It's tough to get through because his acting is so bad (among others). Feels too much like a made for TV movie. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Gayle Sequeira BFI This Sandor Stern horror film begins by examining the dysfunction of the nuclear family unit, gradually morphing into the unnerving story of not just the things we’d sacrifice for family, but the things we’d sacrifice family for. Jul 29, 2023 Full Review Paul Lê Bloody Disgusting As some people will find the story too uncomfortable to watch, others cannot help but be fascinated by Leon and Ursula’s unique and resilient kinship. Rated: 5/5 Jul 21, 2023 Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine What he has created is a bloodless excursion into commercial cliché-too tame for horror fans and too silly for anyone else. Oct 11, 2019 Full Review Zena Dixon Dread Central Pin is a remarkable movie. Aug 25, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Leon (David Hewlett) and Ursula (Cyndy Preston), brother and sister, treat their doctor father's therapeutic dummy like a brother.
      Director
      Sandor Stern
      Producer
      Pierre David
      Screenwriter
      Sandor Stern
      Production Co
      Lance Entertainment, Téléfilm Canada
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Horror, Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (DVD)
      May 1, 2008
      Runtime
      1h 43m
      Sound Mix
      Surround, Dolby Stereo
      Aspect Ratio
      Flat (1.85:1)