Credit A24 Studios
Some films want to challenge an audience to provoke conversation. Pillion just walks straight into the room, kicks off its boots, and dares everyone to keep up without any apologies. The movie is darkly funny in that uncomfortable laugh you cannot quite control, especially for viewers who are not familiar with the Dom and Sub culture that sits at the center of the story. What makes the film work is that it’s not judgemental and never feels like it is mocking that world. Instead, it lets us experience it through Colin played by Harry Lighton, a gay man who is still figuring himself out when he meets a confident motorcycle riding Dom played by Alexander Skarsgard.
Colin enters the relationship as a Sub, and the film leans hard into the awkward reality of that dynamic. Many of the moments might look harsh from the outside as he cooks dinner, follows strict routines, and even sleeps on the rug. The audience around me laughed more than once because the situations feel so absurd at first glance. But film slowly reframes everything as you realize Colin is not being forced into something he hates. You start to get a sense that he is discovering the structure and control gives him a sense of belonging he did not realize he was missing in his life.
The movie lives or dies on its performances, and thankfully both characters understand the tone. Colin’s arc feels genuine, balancing nervous humor with a quiet emotional vulnerability that keeps you invested even when the story pushes into uncomfortable territory. Skarsgard plays the Dom with a calm authority that never slips into parody. He’s handsome, confident, and slightly mysterious, which makes it believable that Colin would be drawn into this world despite the challenges.
Where Pillion becomes more than just a provocative comedy is in its emotional shift. As the relationship deepens, Colin begins to want something beyond the role of Sub. He wants more romance, connection, and intimacy that goes past the expectations of the Dom/Sub rules and routines. His growing desire turns the film into something surprisingly tender. It asks a simple question underneath all the leather jackets and awkward dinner scenes. What happens when the structure that once felt freeing starts to feel limiting?
Directorally, the film avoids turning the lifestyle into spectacle. It stays grounded in Colin’s experience, letting us feel his confusion, excitement, and eventual longing for something deeper. The humor never feels cheap, or makes fun of the culture itself, and the emotional beats land harder because of it.
Pillion is not going to be for everyone, but there’s a challenging aspect of watching and enjoying it. Some will likely find the early scenes a bit uncomfortable. Others will see past the surface and recognize a story about identity and emotion hiding inside a very specific type of relationship. Either way, it’s easily one of the boldest films of 2026.
FINAL VERDICT
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars
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