PIN (1988) – Episode 253 – Decades Of Horror 1980s

“Where did you learn to do that?” Learn to do what? Oh…that. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr along with guest host Ralph Miller – as they visit another strange twist on the ventriloquist/dummy subgenre called PIN (1988).

Decades of Horror 1980s
Episode 253 – PIN (1988)

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Isolated by his strange parents, Leon finds solace in an imaginary friend, which happens to be an anatomy doll from his father-the-doctor’s office. Unfortunately, the doll begins to take over Leon’s life, and his sister’s life as well.

 

• Directed by: Sandor Stern
• Writing Credits: Sandor Stern (screenplay); Andrew Neiderman (based on the April 1981 novel by)
• Selected Cast:
  • David Hewlett as Leon
  • Cynthia Preston as Ursula (as Cyndy Preston)
  • Terry O’Quinn as Dr. Linden
  • Bronwen Mantel as Mrs. Linden
  • John Pyper-Ferguson as Stan Fraker (as John Ferguson)
  • Helene Udy as Marcia Bateman
  • Patricia Collins as Aunt Dorothy
  • Steven Bednarski as Leon – Age 13
  • Katie Shingler as Ursula – Age 11
  • Jacob Tierney as Leon – Age 7
  • Michelle Anderson as Ursula – Age 5
  • Joan Austen as Nurse Spalding
  • Jamie Stern as Eddie Morris (as James Stern)
  • David Gow as Officer Wilson
  • Terrence Labrosse as Dr. Bell
  • Aline Vandrine as Mrs. Shaver
  • Joanna Noyes as Mrs. Henry
  • Andrew Carter as Andy
  • Leif Anderson as Dave
  • Joel Johnson as Jack
  • Shawn Johnson as Tim
  • Robin MacEachern as Richie
  • Jonathan Banks as PIN (voice)

Beware the anatomy doll! Ralph Miller III joins Jeff, Bill, and Chad for a look back at PIN (1988) from director Sandor Stern. The cast includes David Hewlett (Scanners II: The New Order, Cube), Cynthia Preston (The Brain, Prom Night III: The Last Kiss), and Terry O’Quinn (Silver Bullet, The Stepfather, Lost). While it struggled to find an audience upon its initial release, critics praised PIN as well-made, bizarre, and disturbing. Fangoria would later feature it in its “101 Best Horror Films You’ve Never Seen.” Now, it’s time for the Grue-Crew to revisit the film and share their thoughts.

At the time of this writing, PIN is available to stream from YouTube.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, moving into our Grue Believer Celebration Shenanigans month and chosen by guest host Scott Wells, will be The Queen of Black Magic (1981), an Indonesian horror film quoted as being an inspiration to modern-day Indonesian filmmakers such as Kimo Stamboel and Joko Anwar. You can check this one out on YouTube.

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