Pin (1989)

hyped garbage

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

After the death of his parents, a teenager grows closer and closer to his father's anatomically correct medical mannequin called Pin in this offbeat Canadian thriller from 'Amityville Horror' screenwriter Sandor Stern. The film begins with two episodes from protagonist Leon's boyhood that capture his fascination with the dummy who would speak to him and his sister. Growing up, his sister came to believe that ventriloquism brought Pin to life, however, Leon grew up believing that Pin was alive with some grisly results. Stern litters the film with nice touches. Most notably, we never see any lips move and while we may assume that Pin isn't alive, it is ultimately left ambiguous with a few moments (Pin sitting up in the car) that could point otherwise. Another nice touch is how Stern avoids making Pin scary or menacing with all chills and thrills instead coming from the implied. The film also has a highly memorable ending. All that said and done, the earlier scenes are the best with voyeuristic shots as Leon watches a nurse 'use' Pin privately and so on. The film may have also benefited from emphasising the incestuous tones; we are left to assume that he has developed an unhealthy relationship with his sister as the result of overprotective parenting, but the extent of this is never clear. Whatever the case, the film still resonates a portrait of a mind turned mentally disturbed due to misguided parenting.

In this low-budget descendant of "Psycho", Ursula and Leon are sister and brother, living alone, save for a large wooden puppet they call "Pin" (for Pinocchio). When Ursula starts hanging around with new boyfriend Stan, Leon and Pin take action.What drew me to this film was Terry O'Quinn, who has never (so far as I'm aware) made a bad film. And although he is more of a secondary, supporting actor here, this film is no less good than anything else he has done.What makes this film good is its relatively slow pace, building the suspense, waiting for the moment when all heck will break loose. And, for first time viewers, there is the mystery: is Leon crazy or is Pin truly alive and only willing to open up to specific people? (The answer was not what I expected.)

Just a heads up.... the full plot synopsis on IMDb stupidly gives away the whole story so try not to read it. I wish they wouldn't do that it ruins so many movies.Anyway - back to my review - which contains NO spoilers at all.Although it does lean towards drama more than horror it still delivers in a similar way to Hitchock's atmospheric style. This is a superbly crafted chiller and even more so given it was a low budget offering in the middle of the 80's horror flick bonanza. There's no gore, excessive violence or cheap thrills in this baby. A fascinating tale refreshingly free of cliché or predictability and beautifully directed with excellent acting add up to a must see movie. Although those looking for the slash & scream/giggle end of the horror genre might be disappointed. I loved this. And I think you will too. Why is it always so hard to find these gems?

"Pin" has a strong, troubling, psycho-sexual undercurrent -- that's why I like it. I didn't mind the Andrew Neiderman novel, either, which presented the character of Pin from a totally realistic perspective. The atmosphere director Sandor Stern conjures here reminded me of the Virginia Andrews novel,"Flowers in the Attic", though not the ghastly film version. The children's world is enclosed and corruption of some kind is inevitable. In this, Pin is a life-size medical mannequin who is used as a parental surrogate for two children whose parents are too screwed up and occupied with their own affairs to see the folly of their decisions. The film is dark and moody, sexually loaded, and awfully grim in parts. The "voice" of Pin is disturbing in the extreme and his mere presence in each scene is fascinating but unnerving. Directed with enormous skill and beautifully acted. A treasure.