Subscribers to the recently new service have a new title to check out but it is not for everyone
Fans are going to love this new dark romantic comedy-drama film.
The movie Pillion only hit cinemas last year, but it has already been released on at least two platforms. Not only is it available to those with a standalone subscription to the latest service, HBO Max, but it can also be accessed by those with Sky Cinema or a Movies Pass on the NOW platform.
According to its synopsis, the film follows Colin, a timid man who meets Ray, an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker who sweeps him off his feet. He soon initiates him into a submissive relationship.
This challenges Colin’s mundane existence and prompts personal growth through their unconventional dynamic. Harry Melling, best known for playing Dudley Dursley in the original Harry Potter films, takes on the role of Colin, while True Blood, Succession, and Murderbot actor Alexander Skarsgård plays Ray.
Upon its initial release, the film was a big hit with critics, earning a near-perfect 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. One review claimed: “Pillion is a bold, bawdy film told through small looks and big feelings. It broke my heart and put it back together again.”
Although another warned, “Pillion isn’t a film for everyone. But those who know what it means to grovel for their beloved…will find in a subject for analysis in Pillion’s erratic relationship and outlandish romance.”
Another agreed but also highlighted how it handles its subject matter. The reviewer penned: “While the cringe is strong (and deliberate) in many scenes of Pillion, Lighton makes it clear that kink isn’t an embarrassing detour for Colin — it’s how he comes to know himself. For him, in a very real sense, submission becomes empowering.”
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Fans who have already seen the film have been left just as impressed. One person shared their views online, saying: “Unforgettable film in so many ways. Yes, it’s explicit, but that isn’t the lasting footprint of this film. I left the cinema having been enlightened, embarrassed, happy, and so very sad.
“It’s a masterclass in the subtlety of truly great acting where so few words are needed to elicit such emotion from an audience. There won’t be Oscar nominations as it’s a small, independent film with a small budget, but there really, really should be.”
While someone else commented, “A beautiful, unflinching look at queer BDSM life. While it might not be for some (the faint-hearted), it is soulful enough to warrant consideration of anyone capable of empathetic, non-discriminatory understanding of joy in all relationships, and ultimately how fleeting and precious it is.”
One person added their verdict and posted: “It is a rare film, dealing with a theme seldom explored in cinema and, above all, very raw. I have seen some opinions suggesting that the ending was unpleasant. For me, the ending was one of the best parts.”
Pillion is streaming on HBO Max, Sky Cinema and NOW for those with a movies pass.