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David Hewlett, Cyndy Preston, John Pyper Ferguson, Terry O'Quinn, Bronwen Mantel ... see more see more... , Jacob Tierney , Michelle Anderson , Steve Bernarski , Katie Shengler , Jonathan Banks , Patricia Collins , David Gow , Robin Mac Eachern , Joanna Noyes , Bruce Ramsay , Helene Udy , Marty Finkelstein , Terence Labrosse , Cynthia Preston , John Pyper-Ferguson , Katie Shingler , Steven Bednarski

An obscure and offbeat novel by Andrew Neiderman comes to life as this strange, disturbing, but fairly compelling psychological thriller. The title refers to a life-sized medical dummy (the name is sh... read more read more...ort for Pinocchio) through which strait-laced physician and would-be ventriloquist Doctor Linden (Terry O'Quinn) communicates with his children, Leon (David Hewlett) and Ursula (Cyndy Preston). Although Pin seems to have served a useful purpose by providing the emotionally distant Linden with a means of opening up to his family, the mannequin's importance gradually becomes a decidedly unhealthy influence for Leon, whose latent psychosis emerges fully after his father's death and compels him to "adopt" Pin as a member of the household. As Ursula, now a beautiful woman, begins to enjoy a relatively happy love life, Leon is consumed with jealousy and, goaded by the 'Pin' aspect of his personality, turns to murder as release. In its depiction of a psychotic who loses his will to an increasingly lifelike dummy, Pin is remarkably similar in theme to Richard Attenborough's Magic (which itself owed a debt to films like The Great Gabbo). Though it breaks no new ground in this respect, this quirky horror film does present an irresistibly eerie charm (thanks in large part to Hewlett's fine performance) and generates a decent amount of suspense, building to a chilling, if not entirely surprising, climax. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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54% liked it

3,190 ratings

R, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Sandor Stern

Release Date: January 1, 1988

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DVD Release Date: April 24, 2001

Stats: 211 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (211)

  • ajv2688
    February 17, 2011
    ajv2688
    This horror movie is predictable and not really scary at all. It may be slightly creepy at times, but that's it. I wouldn't recommend this movie, but it's not too bad, it's so-so.
  • matertenebraum
    December 28, 2009
    matertenebraum
    The eighties produced a lot of horror films that were clearly made just for people to rent on Friday nights to ignore while they had a few beers and a laugh with their mates. While most of these films were instantly forgettable, some were actually quite good and unfortunately hav... read moree been forgotten along with the forgettable ones. Pin is one such film. While the movie isn't a horror classic, and it takes essential elements from a range of sources, most notably Psycho; it still represents a good success in the psychological horror sub-genre. So, if you like your films to be dark and moody; you can go wrong here! Based on a best seller by Andrew Neiderman, Pin blends the story of a young boy growing up with murderous schizophrenia to horrifying effect. The plot follows a brother and sister, Leon and Ursula, whose father uses ventriloquism and an anatomical dummy as a learning tool for his children. What he doesn't count on, however, is Leon taking this act too seriously and believing that the dummy really is alive. A childish idea that leads to a very dark future for Leon.

    While the film lacks any real potent bite, it blends it's elements together with a good plot pace well enough to ensure that the film always offers compelling viewing and although the action gets a little predictable at times, we always want to carry on watching to see what happens. The dummy itself is the centrepiece of the film and director Sandor Stern has managed to create a malevolent atmosphere around it. The thing looks creepy anyway, but when combined with it's put-on voice; I can imagine it giving some more easily scared viewers nightmares. Ventriloquism is a hobby that has always lent itself well to horror movies; from the dummy tale in 'Dead of Night', to this film and more; you can always count on a creepy movie if one of it's core subjects is the act of someone lending their voice to a plastic doll. The acting in the film is typically eighties; but it's not all that bad considering the type of movie that this is. On the whole; Pin is a nice atmospheric chiller that deserves more attention, so if you get the chance to see it; I highly recommend that you do!
  • creepfreak
    May 3, 2009
    creepfreak
    Amazing development in character, full-force, and pitch perfect build up in the study of a psychopath. "Pin" is a smart horror film, actually playing more like a drama, but always keeping the amount of creepiness at a perfect level. There are no jump scares, it's goreless, and th... read moreere is very little violence. Actually, if you were to remove a few nasty scenes here and there, you'd have yourself a PG-13 horror film. Pin, in a way, reminds me of movies like Session 9 and The Blair Witch Project. You know? The movies that pretty much show nothing too abrupt or excessive, but leave it all to your imagination. Pin follows in these same footsteps. It's a full bread psychological thriller, one that's at it's very best.

    Plot -
    "A doctor has a lifelike, anatomically-correct medical dummy, with muscles and organs visible through its clear skin, named Pin (after Pinocchio). Via ventriloquism, Pin explains bodily functions in a way kids can relate to. When the over-strict doctor and his wife are killed in a car crash, his son (Leon) transfers his alter-ego into Pin, whom he always believed was alive. He starts using Pin as an excuse to over-protect his sister (Ursula) from admirers and deflect unwanted intrusions, even to the extent of committing murder."


    It's kept at a slow place, which only works to its advantage, keeping the chills rolling through atmosphere and creepy build ups, followed by an eerie background. Being that it's such a hidden gem, one might think it's cheap, or just another amateur fright flick. Think again. Pin is genius! The cinematography is brilliant, giving us such a dreaded and cold, but yet colorful, atmosphere. The acting never shies away from being so damn chilling, and it always sucks you in. Great performances by all three leads. First with our character Dr. Linden, who's so convincing as the creepingly weird, and dominated father. His daughter, Ursula, who portrays brilliantly such a saddened, and always, lost little girl who's cries for help are unheard. Then we have Leon, best performance in the movie. A psychopath (or is he?), played so well to where it chills the bone. His performance totally carries the movie.

    The script couldn't be any better. Story wise, it's simple. But it's portrayed in such a great professional fashion, and followed by rich, and detailed dialogue. Pin is actually directed by the same screenwriter of the horrifying 1979 "Amityville Horror" film, and he also wrote the script for Pin. It's not as scary, in my opinion, as the original Amityville Horror, but again, Pin is a completely different movie. There's nothing supernatural going on here. This movie isn't about a demon, a ghost, or an entity. It's just a complete character study on a derangingly sick man. Nothing more. But in it's own right it never fails to creep the sh*t out of you. It's subtle, but scary.

    Again, don't expect anything the least bit gory or violent. Don't expect that much action AT all. But for those looking for a chilling and well crafted horror film, done on a more artsy level, and still filled with scares...than Pin is the movie to see. I highly recommend this film!
  • YosemiteSamFan
    February 10, 2008
    YosemiteSamFan
    Weird horror flick where a medical dummy named "Pin" is the object of fear and command for a mentally unstable young man named "Leon". It's an effectively creepy flick which touched upon disturbing subjects. Not awesome enough to own on DVD however.
  • John2223
    May 9, 2011
    John2223
    I caught this movie in a list about great horror movies you've never seen, however, after watching this movie I was unimpressed; it is a interesting slow burn psychological thrillers that is mildly creepy and at times bizarre but "Pin", in my opinion, it is not a great film as s... read moretated in that list only a decent horror flick.

    Remake is in work by the same director.
  • silentbob66
    September 6, 2008
    silentbob66
    Pin is the story of a dummy yes a actual dummy that two kids grow up knowing as almost one of the family since there father a doctor uses it to explain certain things and even has a voice for it fast forward threw the years and the kids grow up one of them normal a sister and the... read more brother who is very strange when the parents die the brother takes over the voice of Pin and uses it to kill people. Very creepy movie worth seeing just to watch the brother interact with the dummy and how he slowly goes even crezier threw time.
  • trisarahtops22
    October 20, 2007
    trisarahtops22
    Very freaky movie - turned out to be a psychological thriller which is sometimes much scarier.
  • The80sExpert
    May 12, 2010
    The80sExpert
    This movie wasn't scary at all, it didn't even creep me out, not even at the end. I found it to be predictable and a lot like some other movies I've seen. It really is a good movie to teach people how not to parent: do not give your kids advice by having them talk to a doll, th... read moreat just messes them up! I would not wish such unbalanced parents on any kid. Overall, this movie just didn't grab me.
  • kingmob6
    January 20, 2010
    kingmob6
    Surprisingly effective tale of a young man's fractured personality taking on the persona of his deceased father's medical dummy, which he'd used as a ventriloquist's dummy.

    This kid has issues from the word go, but the really strange part is that no one notices as he starts sp... read moreeaking to the damned dummy like it's his buddy or something, and when he reaches the age of 18 and still obviously thinks that the dummy is real, SOMEONE should have stepped in, y'know?

    Never scary per se, but has some creepy moments just because the Leon character is so unnerving as he speaks about the dummy.

    Worth a rental.
  • jam233
    December 6, 2009
    jam233
    It?s certainly creepy. The cast does a good job, especially David Hewlett. Fine score, it has some really tense and interesting scenes. Good pacing and it does a good job with the low budget.

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Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

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Pin Trivia

  • In the movie Back to the Future, What is the name of Marty Mcfly's band?  Answer »
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  • On Kingpin, when Roy throws a strike at his celebration for being the state champion, the seven pin is missing.  Answer »
  • In 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail', how many seconds after pulling the pin out of the Holy Hand-Grenade should you throw it?  Answer »
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