All relationships, romantic or not, revolve around a question of boundaries. Romantic ones just take it further into the realm of what is acceptable and what is desirable.

That second component, desire, is difficult for some. For Colin (Harry Melling), a shy, gay 30-something man still living with his parents in Bromley, London, desire is probably something he hasn’t had the confidence to consider.

Then came Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a hunk of a man wrapped in skin-tight leather with a honey of a crotch rocket idling between his thighs. Colin desires Ray. And when Ray reciprocates, Colin discovers that Ray’s desire comes with conditions.

Pillion, written and directed by Harry Lighton, is a BDSM romantic comedy that is a touch light on comedy—dom-rom is more applicable than dom-com. But that’s not to say Pillion is free from humor; several moments and sexual encounters are quite funny. It’s just that Pillion seems more interested in exploring the dynamics of BDSM and how one is indoctrinated into such a relationship. I don’t think Colin knew he was looking for a submissive role before he met Ray, but he is eager to please and quite good at it. And though Ray’s rules throw him for a loop at first, Colin slides right into the role. Some things just fit.

Pillion, the word for the seat on the motorcycle behind the driver, is sweet in spots and sports an impressive dual performance from Melling and Skarsgård. Both are committed to their roles in a way that would make Ray proud. That’s what diffuses the explicit nature of Pillion’s core relationship and softens what could feel exploitative. Ditto for Nick Morris’ cinematographer—the images reflect Colin’s desire, while making plain to viewers the dynamics of the relationship that even Colin is not comfortable admitting.

The only knock against the movie is that once the roles are established, there’s little conflict to drive the plot from beat to beat. Curious, considering the roar of Ray’s motorcycle engine that kickstarts Colin’s desire.

Then again, you don’t often see a love story like Pillion in mainstream cinemas. Hell, you don’t often see love stories handled with this much honesty. That counts for something.

Pillion (2025)
Written and directed by Harry Lighton
Based on the book Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones
Produced by Lee Groombridge, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Emma Norton
Starring: Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård, Douglas Hodge, Lesley Sharp
A24, Rated R, Running time 106 minutes, Premiered May 18, 2025 at the Cannes Film Festival

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