PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I’ve watched a monstrous amount of great features from the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival, however, none of them had the impact on me that Pin Cushion did. This one hit me hard, right in the heart.
This beautifully heartbreaking tale is written and directed by Deborah Haywood. The cast includes Lily Newmark, Joanna Scanlan, Loris Scarpa, Sacha Cordy-Nice, Bethany Antonia, Saskia Paige Martin, and more.
Official Synopsis for Pin Cushion:
A mother hopes that a move to a new town will provide a better life for both herself and her daughter. Things don’t go as planned…
Although this film isn’t technically a “horror” movie, it is indeed horrifying. It reminds us just how terribly some people will treat others for no reason other than the fact they’re different. It’s excruciating that some people will do anything to make other’s lives miserable just because they’re not happy themselves.
I must say, Pin Cushion was a hard film to watch, and I almost turned it off a few times because of it. However, I stuck it out, and I’m glad I did.
The performances were all exceptional, despite how awful many of the characters were. I struggled with my feelings toward Iona (Newmark) as I knew she had a good heart, but popularity and the obsession to belong turned her personality ugly. Nonetheless, her performance was stunning. She reminds me of a young Natasha Lyonne.
It was Joanna Scanlan who stole my heart, though. She plays the role of an awkwardly quirky mother with a huge heart. She has a rather large lump on her back that makes her walk funny, and because of this, people in the community think they can treat her like shit. I can’t count how many times I wanted to reach out and hug her, to tell her that she was beautiful and loved. Yes, a film steamed this much emotion from me! I almost called my own mom to tell her I love her, and that I’m sorry if I was ever mean to her because no one ever deserves the treatment that this woman endures in Pin Cushion.
Although beautifully shot with eccentric and memorable characters, most of the film is heartbreaking, including the ending, which left me in shock. I wasn’t expecting that at all, and I even shed a few tears. However, despite how gut wrenching it was, the film was endearing and left a strong message, one that I hope that everyone will take with them.
Final Thoughts on Pin Cushion:
In this Mean Girls meets Carrie film, Pin Cushion delivers a story that will stay with you long after the end credits roll. It’s undoubtedly one that I’d recommend watching when you’re in a good state of mind, because it will pull on your heartstrings and make you question how cruel humankind can be. But wherever there is darkness, there is also beauty. Remember that.
