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Pillion is a dark romantic comedy about a shy man who is initiated into the
world of queer S&M by a cool leather-clad biker. Rarely has a film explored
a marginalized alternative lifestyle with such boldness, complexity, style, and
honesty. It might be one of the best films on the subject ever made. Its double
entendre title comes from the term for a motorcycle passenger seat, however the
term also refers to a submissive (sub) in an S&M relationship, like the main
character Colin. The film was well received by critics and played to
enthusiastic crowds at several film festivals and it won the prestigious Un
Certain Regard at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival as well as several prizes at the
British Independent Awards.
Pillion was distributed by A24, which specializes in releasing bold,
experimental Indie films. Past excellent A24 films include Moonlight (2016),
Everything Everywhere all at Once
(2022),
Highest 2 Lowest
(2025),
Marty Supreme
(2025), and most recently
The Drama
(2026). Adapted from the novel Box Hill, an
acclaimed work by Adam Mars-Jones, this film version has aged up both of the main characters
from the novel. Additionally, the films tone is considerably lighter
than that of the novel, rendering a different, less tragic ending to the story.
Pillion's director Henry Lighton both adapted the screenplay and directed the
film. He shows
great potential, having previously won great praise for co-writing and directing
2017's Wren Boys, which won the Best Short Film prize at the British Academy
Film Awards.
Harry Melling plays the lead character Colin, the shy and demure pillion of the
title. Best
known for playing Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films (2001-2010), as well
as a memorable and bizarre role in the hilarious Joel Coen-directed film, The
Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018). His co-lead, Alexander Skarsgard, belongs to
one of the most prominent acting families this side of the Barrymores. His dad,
Stellan, was in three bold collaborations with Lars von Trier: Dancer in the
Dark (2000), Breaking the Waves (2011), and Melancholia (2011), which were among
the best films of the last few decades. He was also in the recent
Sentimental Value (2025) one of the finest films of last year. His brother Bill was in the
fine, recent Roger Eggars remake of
Nosferatu (2024) and his other brother, Gustaf, was in the shows Westworld (2018) and Vikings (2013-2020). Finally,
Alexander was known for HBO's series True Blood (2008-2014) and
The Northman (2022) which
made great use of his Nordic look and heritage.
The story is set in a quaint small British town of Bromley. Colin (Melling) is
an unassertive, introverted person who lives a quiet, uneventful life with his
parents, Pete (Douglas Hodge) and Peggy (Lesley Sharp). His mom has terminal
cancer, and before she dies, she is determined to find his son a “nice man.” She
is heavily involved, and perhaps unhealthily so, in his son’s life and keeps
setting him up on dates. Colin sings in his dad’s barbershop quartet, where his
eyes meet those of the assertive leather-clad, tough guy Ray (Skarsgård) on
Christmas. Ray radiates confidence and dresses like a biker. Ray sizes up Colin
correctly as a submissive and begins dominating him right away. Although he
barely knows him, Ray gives him a card with his address on it, orders him to
come to his house, and orders him to provide oral sex . Also, Colin must cook
and clean for himself. When he stays over, Colin has to sleep on the floor while
the dog gets to sit on a sofa. Later on, Ray says he knew right away that Colin
“had an aptitude for devotion.” Colin finds all this totally new and oddly
thrilling, and his relationship with Ray helps him explore parts of his
personality he did not know existed.
But Colin’s family is not as happy with his relationship. After much hesitation,
Ray agrees to have dinner with Colin’s parents. The meal is disastrous, and
Colin’s mom is angered when she finds out that Colin is going to clean and cook
for Ray on his birthday and won’t receive a gift. But is his mom right in
thinking that Ray is an abuser, or is he the best thing that ever happened to
Colin? It’s up to the audience to decide if the lifestyle is ultimately good or
bad for Colin. After some resistance, Ray agrees to Colin’s demand that they
periodically take a day off from their S & M activities. During this time, they
interact like a” normal couple.” This section shows another side of the
characters, was not part of the novel and added for the film. The sequence is
one of the film's high points and serves to humanize the couple.
The film is, at times, shockingly graphic, and it is bound to shock conservative
and sensitive filmgoers. There are scenes of serial spitting, anal penetration,
partner switching, and many kinds of graphic sexual activities, which will not
be for the tastes of all viewers. The film was released as unrated, but it’s
equivalent to an NC-17, and both kids and sensitive viewers should be kept far
away from it. Compared to this film, 50 Shades of Grey is a dumb, unrealistic
fantasy for shallow schoolgirls. Pillion is everything that that film should
have been, and it’s a passport to a rarely convincingly depicted lifestyle. It’s
so perfectly done that it may also appeal to people with little interest in the
lifestyle.
Although it’s still early, Pillion is one of the best-acted films of the year,
and it is bound (pun intended) to appear on my best films of 2026 so far list.
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