Pillion
The brief
Harry Lighton's debut burns slow and sensual, following meek Colin (a revelatory Harry Melling) as he discovers his desires through a magnetic relationship with Skarsgård's leather-clad Ray. The film feels like watching someone's sexual awakening through a haze of cigarette smoke and engine oil, building tension through lingering glances and unspoken power dynamics rather than explicit scenes. Melling sheds his awkward-kid persona completely, while Skarsgård smolders without saying much. This is for anyone who loved Call Me By Your Name's patient eroticism or wanted a queer Fifty Shades that actually understands psychology.
The verdict
If you crave slow-burn psychological intimacy and have the patience for sexual tension that builds through glances rather than action, this is a beautifully crafted erotic awakening anchored by transformative performances. If you need faster pacing or explicit scenes to maintain interest in romance, you'll find this cigarette smoke and leather meditation frustratingly restrained.
Watch with
- 👫 Date night for mature couples exploring intimacy
- ⚠️ Skip with family or conservative viewers
Heads up
- BDSM themes and power exchange dynamics (moderate)
- Sexual content and nudity (moderate)
- Adult themes of submission and dominance (frequent)
Credits
- Director
- Harry Lighton
- Cast
- Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård, Lesley Sharp, Douglas Hodge, Jake Shears, Mat Hill, Nick Figgis
Official synopsis
Colin, a timid man is swept off his feet when Ray, an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Dirty Dancing (1987)
Both explore passionate relationships where confidence transforms timid protagonists through dance.
Total runtime: 1h 47m + 1h 40m = 3h 27m
