'Pillion' Review: A24's Sub-Dom Rom-Com Is Surprisingly Sweet

British writer-director Harry Lighton's debut feature film 'Pillion,' starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård, has been released as a surprisingly sweet romantic comedy exploring relationship dynamics in London. The film follows Colin, a thirtysomething parking officer living with his parents and moonlighting in a barbershop quartet, as he navigates his love life despite his mother's attempts to set him up on blind dates. The movie presents Colin as a complex character who initially might be perceived as pathetic, but through Lighton's direction and Melling's performance, transforms into someone relatable and endearing. The film's exploration of gay relationships in contemporary London adds depth to the romantic comedy genre, moving beyond typical tropes while the barbershop quartet subplot adds an unusual and potentially charming element to Colin's character development. 'Pillion' appears to subvert expectations of both romantic comedies and films exploring BDSM dynamics, with the 'sub-Dom' elements handled with sensitivity and humor rather than sensationalism, creating what reviewers are calling a surprisingly sweet addition to the A24 film catalog.