Pin Cushion (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Pin Cushion is a 2018 drama directed by Deborah Haywood, starring Joanna Scanlan as Lyn, Lily Newmark and Loris Scarpa. It runs 1 hour 22 minutes and earned $71,275 worldwide. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 22m (82 min)
- Director
- Deborah Haywood
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Cleopatra Entertainment
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Pin Cushion About?
The premise of Pin Cushion without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A tender drama follows Lyn and Iona, a mother and daughter, as they seek a new beginning in a different town. Despite their close bond, they find it difficult to truly connect, facing emotional struggles that strain their relationship. As pressures mount, both women develop elaborate coping mechanisms and retreat into imagined scenarios, creating a complex interplay between what’s real and what they wish were true.
Pin Cushion Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- sexual awakening
- teenage girl
- ginger girl
- mother daughter relationship
- female masturbation
- nude girl covering self
- girl talked into undressing
- vagina selfie
- girl in bra
- girl masturbating for the first time
- masturbation
- female protagonist
+38 more Show fewer
- mother slaps her daughter
- possessive mother
- birthday party
- parakeet
- dead bird
- suicide of mother
- bad neighbor
- high school
- female high school student
- naive girl
- rude awakening
- mental illness
- girl set on fire
- makeshift flamethrower
- third degree burns
- single mother
- new home
- female bully
- bullying
- psychological
- tragedy
- made fun of
- shaming
- suicide attempt
- suicide
- selfie
- pretending to be someone's friend
- escapism
- sadistic girl
- sadism
- adopted
- pet cat
- implied upbeat ending
- female outcast
- woman with lump on back
- trashing a house
- teenage alcoholism
- teen drinking
Pin Cushion Cast & Characters
Joanna Scanlan leads the cast as Lyn, with Lily Newmark as Iona and Loris Scarpa as Daz. Directed by Deborah Haywood; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Deborah Haywood
-
Joanna Scanlan as Lyn -
Lily Newmark as Iona - Loris Scarpa as Daz
- Bethany Antonia as Chelsea
Also Starring in Pin Cushion
· 6 more- Sacha Cordy-Nice Keeley
- Saskia Paige Martin Stacie
- Aury Wayne Sicko
- John Henshaw Percy
- Lennon Bradley Sam
- Sophia Tuckey Peggy
Pin Cushion Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Pin Cushion 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (65).
Pin Cushion Echo Score Breakdown
Overall, Pin Cushion delivers a visually distinctive and emotionally charged coming-of-age drama that stands out for its originality. The performances by Joanna Scanlan and Lily Newmark anchor the film with compelling depth, even as the narrative occasionally stretches its premise thin. Deborah Haywood’s direction embraces a whimsical aesthetic that sometimes overwhelms the story’s rawer moments. Despite sporadic pacing issues and uneven tonal shifts, the film’s unique personality and poignant exploration of bullying leave a memorable impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 75
In terms of cinematography and production design, the film adopts a vivid, candy-colored visual palette that immediately captures attention. The direction leans into a stylized, macramé-infused aesthetic, offering striking compositions. Occasionally, this heightened design overshadows the narrative’s more grounded moments. Overall, the film’s craft establishes a distinctive artistic identity even when visual exuberance risks diluting the emotional core.
- Character & Emotion 90
When it comes to acting and emotional resonance, Joanna Scanlan and Lily Newmark deliver nuanced and deeply felt performances. Their portrayals convey both maternal protectiveness and adolescent vulnerability, infusing key scenes with genuine intensity. While some critics noted intermittent chemistry gaps, the central duo consistently anchors the film’s emotional stakes. On balance, the character work remains the film’s most compelling strength.
- Story & Flow 70
Regarding plot coherence and pacing, Pin Cushion offers a refreshingly original narrative that subverts genre expectations at multiple turns. The storyline’s thematic exploration of bullying resonates, but certain sequences feel stretched, leading to uneven momentum. Critics and audiences noted moments where the premise runs thin or detours into whimsical interludes. Ultimately, the film’s inventive approach sustains interest despite occasional narrative slackness.
- Sensory Experience 80
In terms of sensory experience, the film unites its colorful visual style with a restrained sound design to create an immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack underpins emotional beats without overpowering the dialogue, and ambient effects support the quirky tone. Some viewers felt that the vibrant color schemes occasionally overshadow more subtle audio-visual interplay. Overall, the cohesive aesthetic and measured audio choices enhance the film’s atmospheric impact.
- Rewatch Factor 65
When it comes to rewatch value, Pin Cushion offers memorable thematic resonance but presents a challenging emotional tone for subsequent viewings. The film’s exploration of bullying and mother-daughter dynamics lingers, yet the distressing atmosphere and uneven pacing may lessen the impulse for repeat watchings. Fans of its distinctive style and strong performances may revisit it for its unique voice.
-
IMDb 6.5 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 89% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 72%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 74 Metascore
User score 5.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.4 /5
12 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Pin Cushion Plot Summary
What happens in Pin Cushion from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In a quiet Midlands town, Joanna Scanlan as Lyn and her daughter Lily Newmark as Iona are eager to start a fresh chapter together. The move promises a clean slate, and the pair throw themselves into the new life with a mix of hope and nerves. Iona quickly crosses paths with a boy named Daz, Loris Scarpa as Daz, and the two start dating, offering a glimpse of teenage romance amid the upheaval of suburban relocation and a brand-new school.
Full summary
The whole story of Pin Cushion, scene by scene
Pin Cushion Box Office
Pin Cushion grossed $71,275 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$71.3K
- International
- $71.3K
Pin Cushion Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 3 trailers.
- Trailer PIN CUSHION (Official Trailer)
- Trailer Pincushion Film
How Well Do You Know Pin Cushion?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress plays the mother character Lyn?
Pin Cushion Also Known As
6 alternative titles, including “Игольница” and “핀쿠션”.
- Also known as
-
- Игольница
- 핀쿠션
- Jehelníček
- Almofada de Alfinetes
- 针垫女孩
- Igielnik
Seen Pin Cushion?
Movies Like Pin Cushion
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Modesty, The Pin and Clementine.
Pin Cushion FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Pin Cushion, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Pin Cushion?
Pin Cushion runs 1 hour 22 minutes (82 minutes).
When was Pin Cushion released?
Pin Cushion was released on July 20, 2018.
Who directed Pin Cushion?
Pin Cushion was directed by Deborah Haywood.
Who is in the cast of Pin Cushion?
Pin Cushion stars Joanna Scanlan as Lyn, Lily Newmark as Iona and Loris Scarpa as Daz, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Pin Cushion make at the box office?
Pin Cushion grossed $71,275 worldwide.
How is Pin Cushion rated?
Pin Cushion has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.
Does Pin Cushion have a post-credit scene?
No. Pin Cushion has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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