--- title: "Pillion" year: 2025 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/pillion" fi1m_id: "pillion" imdb_id: "tt32321317" tmdb_id: 1287141 wikidata_id: "Q125975336" fi1m_score: 80 critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 27 published: "2026-10-03T04:10:01.317201+00:00" updated: "2026-10-03T04:10:01.738329+00:00" region: "DE" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Pillion (2025) Directed by Harry Lighton · 1h 47m · FSK 16 · Romance, Drama, Comedy ## Identity Pillion - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/pillion - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** pillion - **IMDb ID:** tt32321317 - **TMDB ID:** 1287141 - **Wikidata ID:** Q125975336 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32321317/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1287141, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125975336 **Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 80 from 27 reviews *In a sentence:* A romance in which asking for affection seems rather more exposing than taking your clothes off > Harry Melling makes *Pillion* a funny, tender romance about the risks of wanting to please. Harry Lighton treats its BDSM relationship with care, though the narrow attention to its central couple sometimes leaves too little to discover. ## Synopsis Colin (Harry Melling) is an insecure young man drawn into a submissive relationship with Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a biker whose reserve makes his feelings difficult to read. Colin wants closeness and finds pleasure in devotion, but the unequal terms of their relationship leave his own emotional needs uncertain. Around them is a BDSM biker community, while family life brings other demands: Peggy (Lesley Sharp) is dealing with illness. As Colin tries to understand what he wants from Ray, sexual discovery and the wish to be loved become difficult to separate. Ray gives Colin plenty of room to hope, and rather less reassurance. ## Review *Pillion* takes the familiar business of wanting someone more than they seem to want us and gives it a frank sexual setting. Harry Lighton, writing and directing, finds room for comedy without treating a submissive relationship as a joke. We recommend it for the care it takes with Colin’s pleasure and uncertainty, and for Harry Melling’s unusually open performance. Its limitation is the tightness of its focus: the central couple absorb so much attention that the romance sometimes feels short of somewhere else to go. Colin (Harry Melling) is the reason that narrowness remains bearable. Harry Melling lets the need to be liked show, without making Colin seem incapable of knowing his own desires. We were more unsettled than we expected by his eagerness to please Ray: the performance makes it hard to tell how much reassurance will ever be enough. That unease gives the sexual frankness a purpose beyond provocation, and keeps our attention on what Colin hopes the relationship will give him. Alexander Skarsgård plays Ray with a reserve that makes a useful contrast to all this exposed feeling. His comic restraint helps: he leaves space for us to recognise the awkwardness without obligingly pointing it out. The attraction between the actors is persuasive enough to explain why Colin might accept an arrangement that cannot answer every need. Crucially, the film allows submission to be something Colin wants, while still asking whether this particular relationship gives him enough affection. The family scenes provide welcome company beyond the central pair. Lesley Sharp brings spirit to Peggy, whose illness receives attention without swallowing the character. There is warmth in Colin’s scenes with his father, too, and these encounters make his need for connection easier to understand. The treatment of the BDSM biker community is similarly humane, allowing its members the ordinary consideration that films can forget to extend to people whose sex lives might startle an audience. Nick Morris is the cinematographer, with production design by Francesca Massariol; Gareth C. Scales edits and Oliver Coates provides the music. Their contributions serve a film whose sexual frankness never requires its characters to become exhibits. The most effective changes of mood nevertheless come through the performers, particularly the contrast between Colin’s openness and Ray’s reticence. Harry Lighton’s handling of comedy leaves Colin his dignity, which matters more than extracting every possible laugh from his uncertainty. The narrow focus becomes a problem when the relationship has to carry nearly everything. Harry Lighton’s close attention to Colin can leave the surrounding life underdeveloped, and the imbalance sometimes tells us little we have not already understood. A romance needs some uncertainty about the other person, but Ray’s reserve occasionally becomes a limit on what there is to watch. A little more curiosity about the people around the couple would have helped. The performances sustain our interest through these stretches, though they cannot supply everything the writing leaves out. For a shared evening, the important warning is the film’s sexual explicitness. The 18 certificate deserves attention before its warmth encourages anyone to make it a casual choice for mixed company. Nor should that warmth be mistaken for a promise of uncomplicated reassurance about being loved. See it with someone willing to talk about what Colin wants, rather than someone waiting to have his desires explained away. *Fi1m score 80, published 3 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics greet Pillion warmly, praising a funny, tender romance that treats BDSM and queer intimacy without sensationalism. Harry Melling draws the most consistent praise for Colin’s vulnerability and growing self-knowledge, while Alexander Skarsgård’s restraint and the pair’s chemistry also win approval. The reviews credit Harry Lighton’s direction with keeping the relationship emotionally complex and the surrounding community humane. Several find particular warmth in the family scenes, which give Colin’s experiences a wider emotional context. The differences are mostly a matter of enthusiasm rather than outright opposition, with no negative verdicts in the supplied tally. Variety finds the story limited by its narrow focus, while Vulture considers its treatment of intimacy surprisingly mild. Reservations also gather around the closing stretch: The Skinny finds the final act slightly unconvincing. These qualifications sit within otherwise positive assessments; the clearest consensus remains around the performances and the film’s non-judgmental approach. ## Straight answers **Is Pillion worth watching?** *Pillion* is worth watching for its tender, funny treatment of an unequal romance and Harry Melling’s open performance; we score it 80 out of 100. We recommend it for adults comfortable with sexually explicit drama, though its close attention to the central couple leaves their surrounding lives underdeveloped. **How long is Pillion, and what is it rated?** *Pillion* runs 1h 47m and is rated 16 by the FSK in Germany. It is a romance and drama film. **Where can I watch Pillion in Germany?** *Pillion* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from €4.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Pillion, and is it suitable for children?** *Pillion* has a UK 18 certificate and contains explicit sexual material within a BDSM relationship, making it unsuitable for children. We find Colin’s eagerness to please emotionally unsettling, and the film’s warmth does not make it a casual choice for mixed company; sexual frankness is the main caution in our review. **How does Pillion compare to The Duke of Burgundy?** *Pillion* is the better choice for a performance-led romance centred on one man’s need for affection, while we recommend [*The Duke of Burgundy*](https://film.one/film/the-duke-of-burgundy) for a more stylised, exacting exploration of erotic roles. Both find tenderness and dry humour in unequal relationships, though *Pillion* can feel narrowly focused and *The Duke of Burgundy* sometimes tests our patience with repeated rituals. **What should I watch after Pillion?** After *Pillion*, try [*The Duke of Burgundy*](https://film.one/film/the-duke-of-burgundy) (2014, Fi1m 84): For a more stylised, exacting look at the work behind erotic roles. Then [*Happy Together*](https://film.one/film/happy-together) (1997, Fi1m 86): A less comforting portrait of desire surviving where a relationship cannot; and [*My Beautiful Laundrette*](https://film.one/film/my-beautiful-laundrette) (1985, Fi1m 85): Queer desire, family obligations and a romance with other pressures to consider. ### Reviews we read (27) - **Evening Standard**, India Block (5/5): Block gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it an assured and rewarding directorial debut. She praises its funny, tender take on queer first love and the chemistry between its leads. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/pillion-lff-harry-melling-alexander-skarsgard-b1253557.html) - **Time Out**, Leonie Cooper (5/5): The review gives the film five stars and presents it as a tender, wild BDSM comedy. It singles out the film’s tender gay-biker premise as a strength. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/pillion-review-2025) - **Empire**, Beth Webb (90/100, inferred): Webb praises the film as a nuanced, affirming love story and a triumphant directorial debut. She singles out Harry Melling’s vulnerable performance and the tender, naturalistic portrayal of the BDSM biker community. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pillion/) - **IndieWire**, Ryan Lattanzio (A-): Lattanzio praises the film as a strange, sweet, and deeply moving BDSM romance. He singles out Skarsgård and Melling’s committed performances and the film’s emotional complexity. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-1235124356/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson (85/100, inferred): Nicholson finds the film an optimistic, funny romance about a young man discovering what he wants, despite an imbalanced relationship. She particularly praises Harry Melling’s open, puppy-like performance and Alexander Skarsgård’s subtle glimpses of feeling beneath Ray’s gruff exterior. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-02-05/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-harry-melling-lighton) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (85/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film a funny, touching and alarming real love story. He particularly praises Harry Melling’s performance as Colin, whose devotion becomes both ecstatic and troubling. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/18/pillion-review-50-shades-of-bsdm-wallace-and-gromit-in-brilliant-bromley-biker-romance) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (85/100, inferred): Rooney finds the film a disarming, cheeky delight and a uniquely tender queer love story. He especially praises Harry Melling’s portrayal of Colin’s growing confidence and self-knowledge. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-harry-melling-lgbtq-1236219700/) - **Variety**, Peter Debruge (Critics Pick): Debruge finds the film edgy, understated, and revealing, though its narrow focus leaves the story feeling limited. He particularly praises Harry Melling’s endearingly insecure performance as Colin. [Read](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/pillion-review-1236401815/) - **The AV Club**, Katie Rife (B+): Rife finds the film a thoughtful, unconventional romance that uses BDSM to examine commitment and emotional needs. She especially praises Harry Lighton’s controlled direction and the evocative details that sustain its fairy-tale tone. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/pillion-review) - **The Observer**, Wendy Ide (80/100, inferred): Ide finds the film graphic and funny, yet unexpectedly sweet and humane. She especially praises Harry Melling’s expressive performance and the warmth of Colin’s scenes with his father. [Read](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/pillion-is-a-graphic-funny-and-unexpectedly-sweet-depiction-of-gay-bdsm-biker-culture) - **Little White Lies**, Hannah Strong (75/100, inferred): Strong finds the film touching, surprising and buoyant, though its changed ending weakens the central relationship. She particularly praises the chemistry between Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård, along with the film’s nuanced treatment of desire. [Read](https://lwlies.com/festivals/pillion-first-look-review) - **Sight and Sound** (75/100, inferred): The review finds the film a feel-good, non-judgmental comedy that treats unconventional relationships with warmth. It particularly praises Lesley Sharp’s spirited performance and the subtle writing around her character’s illness. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/pillion-feel-good-british-bdsm-drama) - **Slant Magazine**, Keith Uhlich (3/4): Uhlich finds the film a bittersweet, subversive romance whose ending leaves an emotionally potent but uncertain impression. He praises Skarsgård and Melling’s performances, especially the vulnerability Skarsgård reveals in the final scenes. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-harry-melling/) - **The New Yorker**, Justin Chang (75/100, inferred): Chang finds that the film ultimately works as a romance, with Colin’s changing sense of self giving its ending emotional force. He especially praises Harry Melling’s finely timed performance and Alexander Skarsgård’s expressive comic restraint. [Read](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/02/09/pillion-movie-review) - **Total Film**, Emily Garbutt (75/100, inferred): Garbutt finds Pillion more nuanced and affecting than a conventional rom-com, with a positive verdict on its exploration of sexual freedom. She particularly praises Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård’s fearless performances and the film’s respectful depiction of the BDSM community. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/drama-movies/leave-your-expectations-for-alexander-skarsgards-new-movie-pillion-at-the-door-its-steamy-and-sexy-but-its-so-much-more-than-a-rom-com/) - **Screen Daily**, Nikki Baughan (70/100, inferred): Baughan presents the film as a sensitive, frank exploration of a submissive gay relationship. The visible standfirst singles out its sensitive treatment of that relationship for praise. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-and-harry-melling-star-in-frank-british-debut/5205152.article) - **Vulture**, Alison Willmore (70/100, inferred): Willmore finds the film a sweet, melancholy story of self-discovery, though its take on intimacy feels surprisingly mild. She praises Alexander Skarsgård’s expressive, wordless performance and the vulnerability Harry Melling brings to Colin. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgrds-queer-bdsm-romance.html) - **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The page is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint is available to report. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pillion-alexander-skarsgard-harry-melling-film-review-2026) - **The New York Times** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be read, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No praised or criticized element can be identified from the accessible text. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/movies/pillion-review.html) - **The Wrap** (90/100, inferred): The critic calls the film a beautiful, romantic success that treats kink with thoughtfulness and care. They praise Melling and Skarsgård’s performances, as well as Lighton’s intimate direction and evocative sound design. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-harry-melling-a24/) - **/Film**, BJ Colangelo (85/100, inferred): Colangelo views the film as a charming, emotionally restrained love story that treats kink and queer intimacy without sensationalism. She particularly praises Harry Melling’s vulnerable performance and the film’s handling of consent and community. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/2094613/alexander-skarsgard-pillion-2026-subversive-movie-bdsm-decision/) - **HeyUGuys** (85/100, inferred): The review finds the film funny, raw and unexpectedly tender, with a moving shift toward Colin’s self-recognition. It particularly praises Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård’s performances and the awkwardly affecting family scenes. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/pillion-review/) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (4/5): Crow calls it an unconventional, surprisingly heartfelt love story that is funny and sincere without judging its characters. He praises the nuanced performances by Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, especially their portrayal of the relationship’s evolving complexity. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-and-harry-mellings-sweet-little-bdsm-rom-com/) - **The Skinny**, Xuanlin Tham (4/5): Tham finds the film sweet, funny and compelling, despite a slightly unconvincing final act. The review especially praises a rough sex scene for its emotional storytelling and the chemistry between Melling and Skarsgård. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/pillion) - **Deadline**, Glenn Garner (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a beautifully heartbreaking romance that uses BDSM to explore devotion and self-discovery. They praise Harry Lighton’s sensitive treatment of kink and the performances of Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling. [Read](https://deadline.com/2025/05/pillion-review-alexander-skarsgard-harry-melling-lighton-1236393058/) - **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (75/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film sweet-natured and bracing, with a strong emotional payoff as Colin learns to speak up for himself. She praises Harry Melling’s performance and the film’s humorous, non-exploitative treatment of its BDSM world. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/pillion-2025-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) - **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The article’s verdict cannot be determined because the page is blocked. No praise or complaint from the critic is visible. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/pillion-review-harry-melling-alexander-skarsgard-find-unexpected-feeling-in-the-role-play-cannes-20250518/) ## Details - **Director:** Harry Lighton - **Director:** Harry Lighton - **Writer:** Harry Lighton - **Cinematography:** Nick Morris - **Editor:** Gareth C. Scales - **Music:** Oliver Coates - **Production design:** Francesca Massariol - **Costume design:** Grace Snell - **Producer:** Ed Guiney, Lee Groombridge, Emma Norton - **Cast:** Harry Melling as Colin; Alexander Skarsgård as Ray; Lesley Sharp as Peggy; Douglas Hodge as Pete; Jake Shears as Kevin; Mat Hill as Steve; Nick Figgis as Don; Zoe Engerer as Don's Wife - **Runtime:** 1h 47m - **Certificate (FSK):** 16 - **Release (Germany):** 26 March 2026 - **Genres:** Romance, Drama, Comedy - **Budget:** $1 million - **Box office:** $7 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl8n5I-IIHU ## Where to watch in Germany - Amazon Prime Video: rent €4.99, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: buy €11.99, sd *Checked 2026-10-03.* Also available in: AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CL, CO, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, IE, IT, KR, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, SE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Secretary* (2002): Another uneven courtship where submission does not make emotional needs disappear. - *The Duke of Burgundy* (2014), Fi1m 84: For a more stylised, exacting look at the work behind erotic roles. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-duke-of-burgundy.md) - *Happy Together* (1997), Fi1m 86: A less comforting portrait of desire surviving where a relationship cannot. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/happy-together.md) - *My Beautiful Laundrette* (1985), Fi1m 85: Queer desire, family obligations and a romance with other pressures to consider. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-beautiful-laundrette.md) - *Weekend* (2011), Fi1m 86: Two men talking through attraction, with awkwardness given time to become intimacy. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/weekend.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/pillion