Pillion – Movie Review
We’ve had the rom-com. We’ve had the rom-drama. And now, in Harry Lighton’s feature film debut, we have Pillion – a dom-rom-com-drama starring Alexander Skarsgard and Harry Melling as two men who strike up a complicated romance set to the backdrop of BDSM based biker culture.
Melling plays Colin, a timid man who lives with his parents in London, who has never had a chance to outwardly express and explore his sexuality. That is until he meets Ray (Skarsgard) in a bar one night. Ray is a tall, strapping member of a local gay biker club who immediately captures Colin’s attention and affection. But, something about Colin also strikes Ray, and the two soon begin hooking up. Ray’s sexual confidence and dominance, exacerbated by the sexual roughness of BDSM culture is a shock for Colin at first, something that Ray takes advantage of. But Colin sees a chance to finally feel love and affection in a way he never has, and completely gives himself over to Ray, even if it means it affects him, and his parents, in an unexpectedly emotional way.
This complex, complicated and sexually charged exploration of love is a brilliant first time feature from Lighton, who’s confidence in storytelling, both as a writer and director, makes Pillion one of the most unique and wonderful romance stories that has been released in a long time.
Lighton’s confidence in not shying away from explicit sexuality works in favour of bringing a level of authenticity to the explorative elements of Ray and Colin’s relationship, but also an authentic portrayal of gay BDSM culture, which hasn’t been a film focal point in a mainstream released film like this before. The sex of Pillion may be confronting in the sense that it hasn’t been portrayed in such an explicit way, but it is all in favour of building authenticity around this complex relationship.
Pillion doesn’t work without the performances of Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgard, who both give their all to these characters, both physically and emotionally, exploring a wonderfully diverse spectrum of vulnerability of how it is finding love as a gay man. Melling is the revelation of Pillion, and watching Colin navigate his sexuality and feelings in this complex dynamic is heartbreaking at times, invigorating at others, but there is an innocence at its foundation that all can relate to that love is first experienced with. And Skarsgard’s naturally brooding and muscular presence fits Ray’s demeanour perfectly, but it’s the emotional nuance and traumatic pain behind his roughness that adds an immense amount of substance to Ray as a character, and to the overall dynamic.
Pillion is a truly unique and brilliant romantic story. One that challenges the norms and formula of a tried and tested genre, in a completely new world of BDSM gay biker culture that breathes new life into what audiences love about exploring complex adult romances, all tied together by confident filmmaking and outstanding performances.
Pillion is in Australian cinemas February 19
