Carl Roberts 
“While certainly not for everybody, Harry Lighton’s Pillion is an enjoyable comedic romance drama featuring superb performances from the two leads.”
Oh boy! Where do I begin? How will I review Harry Lighton’s directorial debut? Carefully would be a start! Pillion is a romantic comedy-drama set in the world of gay BDSM. The movie stars the brilliant combination of Harry Melling as a timid gay man and Alexander Skarsgård as an enigmatic biker. While funny, touching, and moving at times, it does contain a lot of nudity and sexual activity. It isn’t an assault on your senses, but it most certainly isn’t for your granny to watch either. Considering the BBC is one of the production companies behind the film, I wouldn’t expect it to turn up on TV on Christmas Day any time soon.
THE PREMISE
A timid man is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive.
THOUGHTS
If you take out the sexual scenes, you’d have a romantic comedy, which would be the ideal Friday or Saturday night movie. Couples would cuddle up and watch something that, in reality, is a sweet and enjoyable movie experience. However, with the sexual scenes, the film takes on a wholly new dimension. While it remains a delightful romantic comedy, it becomes slightly darker than we might expect. Of course, I can’t go into detail about these scenes here, but they are, at times, incredibly strong. They also contain a vast amount of humour to offset what we are seeing. I guarantee you won’t look at Jake Shears the same way again.
THE PERFORMANCES
The film, in reality, boils down to the two main characters, who hold the film together. That’s not being nasty to Douglas Hodge as Pete, or to Lesley Sharp as Peggy, Colin’s parents, or to Jake Shears. The three are superb in their performances, with Lesley Sharp playing Colin’s dying mother, brilliantly strong here. But no one can come close to the pairing of Harry Melling as Colin and Alexander Skarsgård as Ray. Together, the pair own the screen, delivering performances that have us laughing, gripped, angry, and warm. Melling is completely believable as Colin.
His timidness at the start of the film slowly transforms over the course of 107 minutes, culminating in the final shot that makes us happy for him. Colin’s transformation, from meek subservient to managing to hold his own, isn’t only confined to his actions, but his appearance too. Harry Melling excels in his role here, embodying the film’s real heart.
Alexander Skarsgård as Ray delivers his usual powerhouse of a performance. As master to Colin’s slave, Ray comes across as arrogant, nasty, unfeeling, and totally inhumane at times. But that is the nature of the relationship. While at first we view this behaviour with suspicion and shock, we come to understand the feelings of this seemingly one-sided relationship. The parameters are set pretty early, following an experience between the pair in an alley.
Slowly, Ray opens up more of himself to Colin, revealing the human beneath, allowing us to see inside this person. Skarsgård is always watchable, but doesn’t have any qualms about delivering brilliantly in his role, including the sexual scenes. Between himself and Melling, the pair hold the film together and keep the audience gripped.
WRITING AND DIRECTION
The writing and direction by Harry Lighton are effective throughout. Lighton’s script, based on the 2020 novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, shines a light on the world we encounter, the truth about this relationship, and the feelings we experience throughout, all superbly. Instead of being something some people might say is exploitative or offensive, it charms us with a story that resonates, actually warms us, and develops brilliantly over the course of the film. The subject material is handled sensitively and the sexual scenes, while strong, are not exploitive or forced. They are handled with deft care and compassion.
Lighton’s direction shows the landscape and surrounding areas of the London Borough of Bromley. Now, after having worked in the town, I can confirm that Lighton has captured it perfectly. The town itself is brought to life in vibrant colour, showing everything it contains. While the park, Colin, and Ray have a romantic day out in, is gloriously presented, Ray’s apartment, both interior and exterior, shines. Lighton proves he has a keen eye, capturing everything the film needs, and misses almost nothing.
VERDICT
While certainly not for everybody, Harry Lighton’s Pillion is an enjoyable comedic romance drama featuring superb performances from the two leads. It is also incredibly and surprisingly touching at times. It delves into the relationship between Colin and Ray, both during good times and bad, with compassion and understanding. While some of the sexual scenes may shock, they too are handled deftly, with no pretence of being titillating or arousing. Instead, it shows the relationship between two consenting adults, something we see and hear about every day. While some may laugh at these scenes, the audience will watch avidly as the relationship begins.
Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård make the film as enjoyable as it is. It examines the unexpectedly tender relationship between the men and the journey they take, emotionally and physically, before reaching an unexpected climax. By the time the end credits roll, we have experienced something that, on the surface, seems unpalatable but is anything but. It is tender, heartfelt, moving, and often hilariously funny. Don’t let the subject material put you off. Take a chance, jump on the back of Ray’s motorbike, and allow yourself to ride Pillion. It’s a ride you won’t regret taking.
Pillion will be in cinemas from this Friday.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
