Great indy cinema
- Pin Cushion review by Koppert79
There is a great sub genre in American indy cinema with films like Welcome to the Dollhouse which is quirky, unique and the right side of weird. Now the UK can match them. This is incredible
2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
A bold, compelling, gut-crunching and moving independent English film
- Pin Cushion review by IF
This is such a bold, compelling, gut-crunching and moving independent English film, which is even more exciting given that it's from a female writer and director. 'Pin Cushion' is Deborah Haywood eye-catching first feature length outing and bodes extremely well for the future.
Not surprisingly, a film about bullying (of both children and adults), proves to be a tough watch, and it certainly does make for some disturbing and uncomfortable viewing, increasingly so as the story develops, though there are moments of black comedy that help lighten the load just a little.
There are terrific performances from the whole cast, but in particular the mother and daughter double act provided by Joanna Scanlan and Lily Newmark stands out, whilst the art direction, costume design and soundtrack are all terrific. There are touches of 'Carrie' and 'Heavenly Creatures' within the plot and the tone of the film, but Haywood has drawn most from her own experiences, and has created an impressive and unique vision in the process.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Really enjoyed
- Pin Cushion review by LH
Good little British film. Would recommend a watch. Quite entertaining. Some low budget British films can just feel cheap. This was a good one though.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Deliberately disturbing tale of bullying
- Pin Cushion review by PD
Writer-director Deborah Haywood’s feature is interesting, challenging and very, very dark. Anchored by superb performances from Joanna Scanlan and Lily Newmark, Pin Cushion's complex portrayal of female relationships is a chilling reminder of how bullying can easily seep from school into adulthood. It's a bit uneven - some scenes are rather heavy handed, and she perhaps ultimately sells short the characters’ inner depths. It's also rather short and feels rushed in places as a result, whilst the ending is a tad contrived and (incongruously) sentimental. But the film is saved by the two leads' performances - Scanlan makes Lyn’s loneliness and pain tangible beneath the hand-knitted jumpers, and Newmark is absolutely terrific as the terribly vulnerable teen desperate to be part of the cool in-crowd whilst deep down knowing she doesn’t fit in at all. Deliberately disturbing stuff.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Bitter pill with a saccharine ending
- Pin Cushion review by TE
Despite the fantasy sequences this film purports to tell a credible story, but the cruelties and the inconsistencies are just too relentless.
It becomes an inflated melodrama rather than a tragedy, but with a ludicrously happy ending tacked on seconds after the shocking culmination of the chain of nastiness.
It has the feel of a student project which has somehow attracted enough funding to support a feature length film.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.