Film Review: ‘Pillion’ is an Impeccably Acted Romantic Comedy Like You’ve Never Seen Before

Romantic comedies come in all shapes and sizes. That’s part of what makes the genre great. At the same time, there’s often a sense of familiarity that permeates rom-coms. So, to come across something like Pillion is a real pleasure. Not only does the film present an LGBTQ+ romance that’s never been depicted on screen, it does so in a way that’s both completely lacking in judgment and absolutely full of life. It’s one of the best movies of the year so far and really does feel one of a kind.

Pillion is not like any rom-com you’ve ever seen before, both in content and execution. Yes, it can be graphic at times, but the flick is never doing it for shock value or to be overtly horny. Instead, it feels honest and observational, giving cinematic life to a type of romance that the big screen has never really depicted before. If you’re shocked, it won’t be because of the content, but due to the feeling that something new has been entered into the conversation. When most audiences interested in dom/sub relationships have had to settle for the awful Fifty Shades of Grey franchise, this is a real breath of fresh air.

Colin (Harry Melling) is a timid man, one who almost seems nervous by the concept of life. He loves to sing, which is a gig he has at a bar, providing a respite from his menial job. One day, while performing, biker Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) slips him a note. He’s handsome beyond almost comprehension and far from who Colin would normally even attempt to go out with, so he’s swept off his feet by the mere concept. Meeting Ray for a casual sexual encounter, he clocks a dominant nature to him, but has no clue just how much that’s the case.

As they continue to meet, Colin quickly falls into becoming Ray’s submissive. Colin’s parents don’t really understand, with his affable father (Douglas Hodge) going along with it and his terminally ill mother (Lesley Sharp) not approving in the slightest. All the same, Colin is discovering a part of himself he had no clue even existed. He’s also falling in love with Ray, who claims that’s not what this is, but also doesn’t have much of a comeback when Colin counters that love is kind of the point of everything. When the relationship begins to evolve and take a turn, both men end up in places they’d never have expected.

Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård are both superb, in very different ways. Melling gets to do something completely different than anything he’s ever done before, while Skarsgård finds a way to make his withholding alluring. Their chemistry balances out a one sided relationship, though when that dynamic is disrupted, they get to shine in a whole new way. In addition to Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp, both of whom are very solid, the supporting players include Jake Shears, among others. Melling and Skarsgård, however, are the clear highlights.

Filmmaker Harry Lighton makes a hell of a debut here, showing not just supreme confidence in his premise, but flawless execution as well. Whether it’s the way the sex scenes are presented or a late third act date that upends everything that’s come before, you never feel like you’re watching someone making their first foray into feature films. The direction is smooth, the pacing is solid, and the screenplay has an efficiency that veteran storytellers would be jealous of, while managing to sneak in some really big laughs. The ending may prove a bit divisive, while some of the brief forays into thriller territory don’t work as well as the rom-com elements, but this overall suggests that Lighton could quickly become one of our great young filmmakers.

Pillion manages to go places you won’t expect, all while telling a story that deeply invests you. You care about these men, you want the best for them, and you worry about whether that will happen or not. The film has been on the festival circuit for almost a year now, so it’s no surprise that this is a wonderful bit of cinema, but it’s pleasing to confirm, nevertheless. This movie is among the best works of 2026 so far, with the potential to really make a mark on the industry. Even reduced to its bare necessities, this is an impeccably acted LGBTQ+ romantic comedy that demands to be seen.

SCORE: ★★★1/2