Sexually charged, Pillion is a dramatic comedy that opens the door on relationships between gay men with a dominatrix mentality. Written and directed by Harry Lighton, it is based on the 2020 book Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, which was set in the pre-AIDS era.
Colin (Harry Melling) is an introverted, naïve homosexual parking officer who lives with his kind-hearted parents in London. Pete (Douglas Hodge) and his wife Peggy (Lesley Sharp), who is dying, but is not backward in coming forward, encourage him to find a partner. While performing pleasant songs with a quartet in a pub, Colin is attracted to a good-looking biker, Ray (Alexander Skarsgård). Never in his wildest dreams does Colin expect Ray to be interested in him, but after a short conversation at the bar, Ray hands Colin a pickup note.
The pair hooks up the next day, Christmas Day, in a back alley, Ray instructing Colin what to do and Colin complying. From the way Ray acts, Colin expects that will be the end of it, but in time he finds out that isn’t the case. Colin moves in with Ray and sleeps on the rug at the foot of Ray’s bed. He cooks, cleans and shops for him, acceding to his every command, learning about his own sexual desires in the process. He also becomes embroiled in the activities of Ray’s gay bikie group.
Ray is a largely poker faced, disciplined man of few words who is into BDSM. He gives little to nothing of himself, including to Colin’s mother, who wants to know more about him. Still, the submissive Colin falls in love with Ray, although that is not what Ray is interested in.
Harry Lighton has ensured the film is good natured and eye opening. It is an entrée in a world I dare say only a select number of people know about. The film’s R rating reflects not only the nakedness in the movie, but the sexual activities performed. Harry Melling is well cast as the wide-eyed, compliant Colin whose character is built on the foundation of wanting to please. Alexander Skarsgård is equally impressive as the hardened initiator, set in his ways, who surprises Colin with his directness.
There is a warmth about the portrayal of the Colin’s loving parents, Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp. A confrontation between Peggy and Ray is one of the highlights of the film. Making his feature debut, Lighton spent a weekend with members of the Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club and ended up casting a number of them in the movie. While I understand that some will find the material too explicit, I appreciated Lighton’s treatment of the subject matter. Pillion is a well-constructed and engaging film about a taboo subject.
Rated R, it scores an 8 out of 10.
Alex First
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Alex First is the editor of The Blurb. Alex is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He also contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.
