Watch Pin

Pin is a psychological horror film directed by Sandor Stern and released in 1988. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Andrew Neiderman. Pin is a story about twin siblings, Leon and Ursula, and their childhood phobia of the medical mannequin known as Pin. Leon has grown up to become a gifted, albeit a quirky medical student, while Ursula has resorted to a life of promiscuity and drug abuse. Their resilience to irksome situations is challenged when they lose their parents in a car accident, and Ursula develops a profound emotional connection with Pin, Leon's father's medical dummy, and attributes it with a sense of guidance.

Leon and Ursula's father was a doctor who used Pin as a way to teach his children medical terminology and anatomy. Leon takes an eccentric interest in Pin while Ursula becomes terrified of it. Their Father warns them that Pin isn't just a dummy and has a life of its own. Pin and his life-like appearance make an unsettling aspect of the house, which permeates the lives of the siblings throughout their lives. As young children, Leon and Ursula refer to Pin as an imaginary friend. However, Leon uses Pin later in his life to help him smoke out his intrusive classmates.

The action kicks off with an eerie childhood memory of Leon and Ursula, and the personality of the movie evolves with the eerie and obscure atmosphere of their childhood home that the medical dummy perpetuated in their lives. The story unfolds as Leon moves on to medical school, and Ursula succumbs to a life of rebellion that results in her being sent to a mental institution. Leon continues to use "Pin" as a reference for surgical procedures and diagnosis, while Ursula returns to the family home after escaping from the institution, still obsessed with Pin.

One of the most compelling components of Pin is the eeriness of Leon's obsession with Pin, fuelled by his father's usage of the dummy as an educational tool combined with the eerie presence of the doll throughout the film. The mere presence of Pin is unsettling, and as Leon uses the doll in his medical studies, his fellow medical students' suspicion and confusion grow. When Ursula starts believing Pin talks to her, Leon has no choice but to reveal his truth to his sister about Pin, much to her disgust and terror.

As the plot thickens, things go from bad to worse, and Ursula's beliefs about Pin become harder to ignore. Leon tries to keep his sister safe, but she starts believing that Pin is alive and watching over her. Her strong attachment to Pin only intensifies after Leon dissects the doll's head in class, which Ursula views as an assassination attempt on her closest confidant. Ursula's obsession with Pin escalates, and her instability eventually puts her in grave danger before the final credits roll.

One fascinating element of the film is the foreboding sound in the soundtrack, which warns the audience of the upcoming events. The cinematography of the movie frames the intricate details that emphasize the importance of scarlet, blood-like colors, and the disorienting darkness of the siblings' former home. The film's intention is to create a realistic presence of the medical dummy in the viewer's mind throughout the story, and it accomplishes this quite brilliantly.

Pin is a must-watch for viewers who appreciate a perfect cocktail blend of suspense and psychological horror. The movie evokes fear and dread by enhancing its characters' fear through the medical dummy, which serves as a metaphor for each character's psyche in the movie. The acting is excellent, and the production design and pace of the story work together like a well-oiled machine. Stern captures the narrative's intricate details while showcasing his demeanor when dealing with the complexities of mental health issues. The outcome? A motion picture that demands to be seen while earning critical acclaim, as well as a place in the much-coveted "best horror films of all time" lists.