Rent Pin (1988)

Weird, creepy, sad - watch this film - Pin review by SD

I love a horror movie, and this is one of the most striking I've seen in a long time. Even from 1988, I doubt it has been bettered, in the genre of creepy talking anatomical dolls. Parents are cold, withholding, weirdos - sis turns out fine, brother not so much. Some genuinely frightening moments, and the whole movie gives you a sense of unease. Sis has to be one of the nicest, most sympathetic characters in any movie, and brother, for all his dubious behaviour, is just a damaged child. The scene with Pin and the Nurse will haunt my dreams.

Excellent 1981 Canadian Horror about Mental Illness and a creepy anatomical doll called Pin. - Pin review by PV

This reminds me of the best ventriloquist doll film ever DEAD OF NIGHT (1945) and an Anthony Hopkins film heavily influenced by it, MAGIC (1978). each deals with mental illness BUT the questions hangs there about whether the doll is actually alive.

The same here though it confused me to start with. Set in 1981 (with improbable scene set 15 years later) this started very well, and only later does one realise an anatomical doll used to teach is just that.

I am so glad I watched this superb spooky creepy movie - not sure how I missed it over the years.

Brilliant use of a digital bleeping watch in the plot too, no spoilers. VERY 1981! As are the big 80s hairdos.

What I especially like about this film compared to so many modern movies is that it is not all manblaming - the horrendous controlling mother and the aunt are truly monstrous, not just the father. These days, a similar film would manblame and show all males as bad and useless or monsters and all women as victim angels. Why I avoid them, esp the preachy metooboohoo woke ones, with stereotypical 'strong and independent women in control' as contrasted with the clueless useless men (who invented human civilisation of course but...), Bye bye Barbia - not bothering with you, doll! I have got PIN instead.

And Leon is a sympathetic character, despite everything. Not sure the law would have let the end happen (no spoilers) but anyway, it is Canada eh - not the USA.

4 stars.