(Photo Credits: Screengrab from A24’s Official YouTube Account)
Pillion is a provocative 2025 British romantic comedy film that marks the feature directorial debut of Harry Lighton, who also wrote the screenplay. It is said to be loosely adapted from the 2020 novella Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section on May 18, 2025, where it took home the Best Screenplay award. In the UK, Pillion is scheduled for theatrical release on November 28, 2025, via Picturehouse.
The story centers on Colin (played by Harry Melling), a mild-mannered young man living a quiet life with his parents and working as a traffic warden. His life takes a sharp turn when he meets Ray (portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård), a magnetic and enigmatic biker gang leader. Ray invites Colin into a strict BDSM dynamic, requiring him to obey rules: cooking, cleaning, shopping, even sleeping on the floor. Over time, Colin is drawn deeper into Ray’s biker community and begins to question how far he’s willing to let go of his own boundaries.
The title Pillion refers to the rear passenger seat on a motorcycle—a metaphor for Colin’s submissive role in his relationship with Ray. Supporting cast includes Douglas Hodge (Pete), Lesley Sharp (Peggy), plus Jake Shears and Anthony Welsh among others. Lighton consulted with real gay biker club members of Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club (GBMCC) during production; some appear in the film to lend authenticity.
Critically, Pillion has been praised for its blend of erotic frankness, emotional depth, and moments of dark humor. Reviewers note that Lighton doesn’t shy away from the messiness of power dynamics, but he also doesn’t treat the relationship as a trope—Colin’s devotion, Ray’s ambiguous motives, and the shifting balance between consent and control are all carefully drawn. At Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a very strong “fresh” rating based on critic reviews.
Lighton has expressed in interviews that his aim was to represent kink relationships in a way that doesn’t feel like shock value but shows vulnerability and personal stakes. He said in an interview, “I didn’t want the sex to feel like empty provocation.” The film has also been noted for balancing intense intimacy with levity and understated moments.
All in all, Pillion is a gay romance that travels beyond simple sub/dom tropes to explore sexuality, devotion, and emotional cost. Its release later in 2025 is much anticipated by fans of queer cinema and BDSM realism alike.
Happy viewing!
yo, white bread bedtime story with a bent!
yo, the white bread bakery is workin’ overtime
It looks,ok ,like a gay comic version of 50 shades
Funny i just had the butt plug talk with a fuck buddy.. Actually, i was encouraging him to keep and use the giant dildo given to him that day by another buddy
What a terrible idea for a movie. I haven’t seen a good gay movie in decades, let alone a great one, save
for one made in India. There have to be more great stories than coming out under oppression and having a dying partner or friend. This is not one of them. It’s the kind of thing that makes life harder for gay people. We do not need to be presenting this tiny sliver of what goes on to the public. We are not perverts!
It is a “Niche” film for a “Niche” audience as such, it serves its purpose. If you are into the niche, go see it, if not ignore it..it will go away soon enough. they all seem to…
Take a good look at the story line and actors.
Just not the demographic for this. I’ll pass.
But if we claim to be “open minded” or say we always want to learn, we should always look.
yo, white bread sum good advice
WOW – Never hear any gay top say “You’re too tight” to their BOTTOMS before 🙂 LOLOLOLOLOL