Pillion Review

Pillion is Harry Lighton’s directorial debut as he explores a same sex BDSM relationship in one of the most critically acclaimed British films of 2025.

Colin Smith (Harry Melling) is a meek, quiet man who has a chance encounter with a biker called Ray (Alexander Skarsgård). A relationship quickly forms between the pair, with Ray dominating Colin, and the relationship quickly turns toxic.

Pillion has been a festival favourite. It won two awards at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for three more, and has been nominated for 10 BIFA Awards. However, it’s going to be a film that will divide audiences. I saw the film at an Odeon Unseen screening, and there were several walkouts. My audience’s reaction was mixed. It was a film made for a cinephile audience rather than a mainstream or safe middle-of-the-road audience.

Pillion was a sexually explicit film. It earned an 18 rating. Colin and Ray’s first ‘date’ was Ray taking Colin to a back alley so he could humiliate the younger man and get Colin to perform oral sex. Ray treated Colin like a servant, or even a pet (although Ray treated his dog better than Colin). Their first interaction took place in a pub, where Ray made Colin pay for his crisps. When Colin moved into Ray’s flat, the biker made Colin his personal cook and forced him to sleep on the floor. It was painful to watch this nice, shy guy getting tortured.

Pillion was a story about psychological abuse. Ray constantly humiliated Colin, whether in public or private. Ray’s domination was symbolised by placing a chain around Colin’s neck, and he wore the key. The film does play like the LGBT version of Fifty Shades of Grey, but made as a gritty, serious British film. It was a one-way relationship where, for Colin, it was all give but no take; there was no sense of boundaries or sexual gratification for him. One character told Colin he brought out the best in Ray, which leads to the thought, what’s he like at his worst? Collin’s mum (Lesley Sharp) was the best character in the film since she called Ray out for the treatment of her son. She was a protective mother.

The relationship between the pair was Paul and Jeanne in Last Tango in Paris, where it was about sexual domination. Ray belittled Colin when he wanted tenderness or to act like a real couple. Ray was emotionally distant and restrained, but he was capable of warmth when Colin suffered emotional distress and could be a good boyfriend. Ray does offer Colin a sense of excitement and danger, an escape from his humdrum life. As the film progressed, Colin did start to resist, gain confidence, and stand up for himself. This drew comparisons to another BDSM film, Secretary. All of this made the picture and relationship more complex.

Pillion has been classed as a comedy-drama. The film did have an awkward wit to it. Colin’s parents were supportive, but embarrassing as they set their son up on a date, or when they met Ray and talked about his bike. They treated their son like he was a teenager. Colin’s shyness and awkwardness also provided some titters.

Pillion was a bold film for a debut feature from a young filmmaker, and it does have a lot of masculinity and sexual relationships, but it will be a marmite film.