3/5
There’s a lot to like in Deborah Haywood’s Pin Cushion – the moments of fantasy throughout are particularly striking and I especially like the ways in which the film explores the slow escalation of feminine teenage cruelty. I also like that, even with the fairy tale quality to everything, there are no simple solutions to the persistent bullying that we see directed to both mother and daughter. But even with strong performances across the board, the film’s narrative transitions are too abrupt, making several essential character beats feel less organic and natural, more forced and predetermined. Add in a final twist with conclusions that feel naïvely dangerous at best, and you end up with a film that had so much potential but comes up short.
