Pillion
2025
***½
Director: Harry Lighton
Cast: Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård, Douglas Hodge, Lesley Sharp, Jake Shears, Mat Hill, Nick Figgis, Zoe Engerer, Paul Tallis, Billy King, Kavcic Miha, Lee Groombridge
Colin, an aimless gay man, is drawn into a submissive relationship with Ray, a charismatic but emotionally distant biker who introduces him to a leather-clad motorcycle community. Harry Lighton's feature debut, adapted from Adam Mars-Jones's 2020 novel Box Hill, examines the complicated boundaries between devotion and autonomy. The dynamics of the relationship initially feel bewildering and even cruel, but Lighton's unconventional romance gradually develops into a moving story about self-discovery, as Colin must decide how far he is willing to go in surrendering himself to another person. While Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård give intense performances, Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp provide the comic relief as Colin's supportive parents.
