Pillion, the “deeply moving” British film starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, has debuted to a perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The drama, from writer-director Harry Lighton, sees Melling play the “timid” Colin, a young gay man who lives with his terminally ill mother. After meeting the “confident” Ray (Skarsgård), Colin enters into a submissive relationship where his “mundane existence” is challenged.
Based on Adam Mars-Jones’s 2020 novel Box Hill, Lighton’s adaptation has received critical acclaim following its premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Caméra d’Or award, which honours the best debut feature.
Following its first 12 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Pillion has secured a perfect approval rating of 100%, with several critics praising the performances of its two central stars as well as Lighton’s balancing of tones.
You can read a selection of reviews below:
Cannes/Element Pictures
Related: New must-see “frightening” horror movie debuts with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating
“Ultimately a deeply moving love story, one where we become the submissives to Lighton’s strange, beautiful, and sexy vision. It also never hurts to be anchored by two actors who are totally game and committed to that vision.”
“A film that deftly balances squirmy comedy with gentle pathos, social suspense with offbeat warmth. Pillion gives little indication that Lighton is a first-time feature director.”
“Laced with a wry sense of humour, Pillion manages to be both understated and explicit in the way Lighton presents practically everything that happens in Colin and Ray’s unconventional relationship.”
“This is a breakthrough role for Melling… Colin is like a fledgling bird, all crazy-eyed intensity and compulsive chatter. It’s a joy to watch him come into his own, figuring out exactly what he wants and how to get it.”
“It’s knotty stuff for a first film but Lighton finds a delicate balance between disturbing, funny, sweet and sad.”
Dimitrios Kambouris//Getty Images
Related: Best film and TV tours for 2025
“The boldness, nuance and humour with which Lighton navigates BDSM dynamics as well as Colin and Ray’s personal and joint complexities results in a film that’s frequently touching and surprising.”
“There’s no sag in Pillion, a movie that takes risks in its telling of how two extremely different men find sexual satisfaction almost by virtue of how they fill out the roles they have come to inhabit in society.”
Pillion has no release date yet.
Digital Spy’s first print magazine is here! Buy British Comedy Legends in newsagents or online, now priced at just £3.99.
Deals that might interest you
Shop Sky TV, broadband and mobile deals
Stranger Things Hellfire Club Dice Dangle CharmCredit: Pandora
Shop Claudia Winkleman’s Traitors looksCredit: BBC / Studio Lambert
Richard Osman: We Solve MurdersCredit: Viking
Shop PS5 consolesCredit: PlayStation
Shop Alison Hammond’s outfitsCredit: Mark Bourdillon
Apple TV+ 7-day free trialCredit: Apple TV+
Sign up for Disney+Credit: Chuck Zlotnick
The Street of Lies: An Official Coronation Street Interactive NovelCredit: Octopus Books
Death in Paradise: The Puzzle BookCredit: BBC Books
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.