Particle.news

A24’s ‘Pillion’ Nears Wider U.S. Rollout as Early Reviews Divide

Early reviews emphasize explicit BDSM portrayal with divisive reactions.

Overview

  • Harry Lighton’s feature adapts Adam Mars-JonesBox Hill into a romance centered on an intense dom/sub dynamic between Colin (Harry Melling) and Ray (Alexander Skarsgård).
  • Local reviews split, with Arizona’s Family calling the film extreme yet empathetic and The Loyola Phoenix condemning what it views as shock-first staging and thin character work.
  • Critics broadly praise Melling and Skarsgård for committed, physically precise performances and charged on-screen chemistry.
  • Lighton told a Chicago premiere audience he aimed for accessibility to newcomers and consulted the Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club, a choice that some reviewers still say did not yield broader inclusivity.
  • A24’s limited theatrical rollout is set for this week, with coverage citing Feb. 19 or Feb. 20 dates depending on the market.