The Daily Dig: Pin (1988)

“PIN” is a different kind of eighties horror with a strong, visceral story that is amplified by a creepy, talking anatomy doll.

A troubled teen uses an anatomy doll as a companion as he slips further into a manic state. Let’s dig into 1988’s PIN, directed by Sandor Stern!

As I See It

Adapted from Andrew Neiderman’s novel, this direct-to-video film has probably visually crept into your horror realm, whether from the cover of the novel or the film poster, which is a very 80s composition with dark stairs leading up to a wheelchair-bound figure and backlighting seeping around them.

When we jump back fifteen years, the subtlety of the life the kids are stuck in is well done. From the antique grandfather clock to the plastic-covered furniture in a room they’re probably not even allowed in to the drilling before bedtime, there’s no way you can’t pick up on the rigid lifestyle they were subject to.

This film made me think a lot about the things my parents lied to me about. From threats of the boogeyman (my version was “The Gorilla Man”) to false narratives to keep me in line, I always had an inkling they were using some sort of mechanism that had no real consequence.

But what if they weren’t lying? That’s the brilliance of the horror in this film. Is the dad throwing his voice, or is Pin really talking?

There are many coming-of-age elements to this movie. The kids looking at illicit magazines and contemplating their own development can easily be seen as over the line, but it’s as true as the weather that teens are curious beyond reproach. Using Pin to explain “the birds and the bees” is a clever way around the awkwardness. Once we jump to Leon and Ursula as teens, things turn much more dysfunctional.

The remainder of the movie positions Leon as a nontraditional villain. We pivot from coming of age to a family turning a blind eye to mental illness. This is why the film works so well. It’s relatable on many levels and wraps our ineptitude in horror.

Famous Faces

Terry O’Quinn (Doctor Linden) played John Locke in J.J. Abrams’ hit series Lost. He was also Jerry Blake in The Stepfather and played Warden Lacy in season one of Castle Rock, the series based on Stephen King’s fictional Maine town from a slew of his books.

David Hewlett (Leon) was in one of my favorite indie films of all time, Cube. He’s also become a recent favorite of Guillermo del Toro, appearing in The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley, and an episode of the brilliant series Cabinet of Curiosities on Netflix.

Of Gratuitous Nature

I did not expect the nurse to dry hump Pin. I guess there have been weirder sex scenes in films I’ve covered, but this one had no ceremony; she jumped right in like an addict as soon as the office emptied out.

Heartthrob

I often wonder where film props end up after shooting. I recall asking Larry Fessenden about a well-done body prop in his 2006 film The Last Winter. The best he could recall was he had let the effects artist take it. You’ve got to imagine that Pin is floating around somewhere, right? It’s in someone’s home office, basement, or storage unit. It would be a really cool piece to add to a menagerie of monsters.

Ripe for a Remake

There is a “made for TV” feel to the movie, especially with the score. Even with that somewhat disparaging comment, this is a vastly different horror film, especially for that time period. It doesn’t have as much heart as Pumpkinhead, but it stands alone much like that Stan Winston classic. That, to me, deserves a chance to get in front of some new technology and visionaries.

Spawns

No progeny to report.

Where to Watch

A long-ago (2001) released DVD will be the best way to see this one. I’ve seen a Region B Blu-Ray floating around out there, but I’m not familiar with the distributor (Jakob, out of Germany). I got lucky and bought both the DVD and novel as a young, spooky kid. They are both now going for a good chunk of change on the secondary market. The Chattanooga Film Festival recently screened this as part of their secret Red Eye virtual screenings. You may be able to track down a VHS or DVD rip on YouTube.