Pillion: A Winning Dom-Com That Hurts So Good

Billed as the first dom-com, Pillion, based on the book ‘Box Hill’ by Adam Mars-Jones, is a daring choice as a near Valentine’s Day release in North America (the film was previously released in late November 2025 in the UK). However, in its own twisted way, it works. In today’s day and age, love comes in all shapes and sizes, many have remained largely unexplored. That being said, the feelings between two people, whatever way they may express them, are still valid. Leaning into the world of BDSM, that premise will undoubtedly turn some audiences off but is merely a means to tell a powerful story made for adults about two men in search of connection. Coming out of left field, in spite of the framing, it is a raw and very human tale that many will find themselves connecting to. The feature directorial debut of writer-director Harry Lighton, his grasp of human relationships allows him to push all the right buttons, making for a heartbreaking watch. Stars Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård are simply sensational together, delivering winning chemistry that only gets better as the film goes on. If there’s anything keeping it from reaching its full potential is a bit more character development. Viewing the main characters through the lens of their relationship, perhaps the film needed more to drive it home by establishing a baseline but it’s all in the eye of beholder and whether or not Melling and Skarsgård do enough selling on their end.

Pillion is centered around Colin (Melling), a lost young gay man who soon found himself swept off his feet by Ray (Skarsgård), a mystifying and ridiculously handsome biker who took him on as his submissive. Hitting a rut personally, coming across Ray in a bar, there was something about him that drew Colin to him. Maybe it was fate, or maybe he just fell under his spell, as there was an attraction right away. Picking up on that, and his proclivity for devotion, Ray became the dominant to his submissive. New to the world of BDSM, he was a willing participant that was ready to follow orders and do whatever he was told. Following Ray, wherever that may go, whether or not Colin actually liked it or whether he continued to be with him was an open question. As his supportive parents Pete (Hodge) and Peggy (Sharp) watched from the sidelines, they had a front row seat to their son’s change. With any parents, they wanted what was the best for their child, but they still had concerns, especially the ailing Peggy. To them, Ray remained a virtual mystery and Colin didn’t know that much more. Keeping the personal details to a minimum, Colin existed to fulfill his needs. This gap proved to be the most difficult learning curve, until that gap would of course narrow over the course of the film.

As Ray took Colin deeper into his world, the local biker/BDSM community was like any other, one where likeminded individuals occasionally gathered together to create a safe space where they could drink and partake in their respective activities amongst one another. Only there to establish that it existed, much of the focus was on Colin and Ray’s relationship. Rather tame, compared to where it could have gone, Colin endured but the longer he and Ray were together, he couldn’t help but want more out of their time together. However, that sentiment appeared to be one-sided until cracks started to develop in Ray’s resolve. Opening himself up ever so slightly, Colin arguably read too much into this change, giving him false hope. Though whether or not he was willing to admit it, Ray had feelings for him, responding to the changes in his life. Adopting a BDSM lifestyle and becoming a dominant, it was easy for him to maintain a sense of control and keep others at arm’s length from his true self and feelings. Meanwhile, it was only a matter of time that their dynamic would evolve, once the normally timid Colin found his voice and started to stand up for himself. While still devoted to Ray, he wanted to carve out some room for himself in their relationship.

Essentially fighting back against Ray in what was a powerful moment for Colin (and Melling), the tables seemed to turn. Allowing for the possibility of him changing his ways, the film offers up audiences of what that may look like before ripping it away just as quickly. In the end, a future life between Ray and Colin was never going to be in the cards for them. Ending in heartbreaking fashion for Colin, Ray could not change his ways. Performing one more heroic act, Ray took himself out of the equation, protecting Colin from him and giving him the chance to move on and find the kind of life and relationship he really wanted.

Above all else, Pillion begins and ends with Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård, and their winning chemistry. Melling, in particular, shines as a relatable lost soul in Colin. Trying to find a direction forward, opening up at the opportunity that Skarsgård and Ray presented for him was an easy feeling to connect to. And Ray led him towards that direction, until Colin gained the confidence to take the lead. On the other hand, Skarsgård has an aura about him that works for a character like Ray. Height and looks aside, he has such a commanding presence that would make anyone want to follow him. However, not quite the impenetrable figure that he may seem to be, he brings a nuance to Ray that helps make his dynamic with Colin work so well.

Pillion, though not without flaws, is a powerful BDSM romance that knows what buttons to push and has the performances to truly bring it to life.

still courtesy of Photon Films

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.