Tin and Tina (Tin&Tina) is a psychological horror film directed by Rubin Stein, who also serves as the film's screenwriter. It is based on a 2013 short film of the same name and stars Milena Smit and Jaime Lorente alongside Carlos González Morollón and Anastasia Russo. The film lasts 120 minutes.
Tin and Tina follow Lola and Adolfo, who, after suffering a life-changing miscarriage, decide to adopt two children whose extreme religious upbringing begins to become a problem in their daily lives. As time goes by, things start to get downright dangerous for the couple, especially for Lola, who is left traumatized by the oddities of her children.
Director: Rubin Stein
Writer: Rubin Stein
Stars: Milena Smit, Jaime Lorente, Carlos González Morollón
Tin and Tina is one of those absolutely uncomfortable movies to watch, but from the get-go it feels like a movie we've seen before. Of course, it will remind you of old movies that have left a great impact on the cinema. It's a bit of Midsommar, Goodnight Mommy and The Shining and then some. But more than a horror, it is a drama about relationships and the burden of motherhood on women.
Set in 1980s Spain, the film is riveting in parts, but too fantastical to be a gripping journey throughout. It's the moments that really ask you to understand Lola's fears that grab our attention: we're left shocked and scared for her mental and physical well-being. The trouble she gets into every day is nothing short of horrible, and the fact that Adolfo is an absolutely horrible husband and father doesn't help.
Their interpersonal conflicts are what keep Tin and Tina going. It's a great movie as a drama and sometimes it even makes you emotional with some of its moments involving the twins. But once again, the psychological thriller aspect feels a bit too much. He's a bit comically evil even at points, which just takes you out of the experience and makes the whole thing awesome.
However, it's clear that Stein put his heart and soul into his first feature film. It looks and feels great, and there's definitely an air of uncertainty and mystery to every frame. Regardless of whether the twins are there or not, you can't help but feel tense and wonder if they are really to blame. We never really get an answer because in the end you will be left questioning the truth and therefore it will leave you uncomfortable and confused. Also, the background score is really good and fits the theme very well.
Religion plays a big part in the movie, and politics is mixed in too, but I didn't see the impact until the very end. Sure, religion is used as the mysterious bogeyman, but it's not religion so much as two brainwashed children and a frustrated wife and mother that are the main issues here. The movie would have been great without the Bible verses or the sporadic mentions of politics; It would have had the same impact, but maybe two kids repeating Bible verses while they drown you is more horrifying.
Milena Smit and Jaime Lorente are great in the movie, as are Carlos González Morollón and Anastasia Russo as the twins Tin and Tina. Smit, in particular, is terrific, bringing out the anger, resentment, fear, frustration, and happiness that her character goes through without a hitch. Her chemistry with Lorente is also quite natural and works well. Meanwhile, Moorlon and Russo play the perfect creepy twins who just might take you back to The Shining.
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