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 a film that builds sexual tension through stolen glances rather than explicit action, this is a beautifully crafted exploration of desire with career-best performances from both leads. If you need faster pacing or prefer your romance more conventional and less steeped in power dynamics, you'll find this art-house approach frustratingly opaque.
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
