Writer-Director Harry Lighton Brings Leather-Clad BDSM to Romantic Comedy with 'Pillion'

The film, which hits theaters just in time for Valentine's Day, puts a transgressive twist on the traditional rom-com formula.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Writer-director Harry Lighton's new film 'Pillion' is a warm, crowd-pleasing romantic comedy that takes place in Britain's leather-clad BDSM biker scene. The movie follows shy wallflower Colin as he falls for a hunky motorcycle man named Ray, who has some very particular ideas about what he expects from their relationship. Lighton, who was in town to accept the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation's Breakthrough Artist Award, says he wanted to make a rom-com that 'spoke more to my desires' as someone who grew up 'comfort-watching' the genre.

Why it matters

Lighton's goal with 'Pillion' was to redefine the dominant iconography of the gay leather scene, which has often been defined by outdated stereotypes. By setting the story in the present day and crafting a striking, instantly iconic costume for the character of Ray, the film aims to show what it means to be a 'sexy biker' in 2025. The movie also tackles the delicate negotiations that come with a new relationship and what people are comfortable with.

The details

The film is loosely based on Adam Mars-Jones' 2020 novel 'Box Hill: A Story of Low Self-Esteem,' which was set in the 1970s. Lighton was interested in updating the story to the present day to redefine the imagery of the leather scene. The director worked closely with the costume designer to create Ray's striking cream-colored racing suit, which he describes as 'really hot... like a gay Power Ranger.' The movie doesn't shy away from depicting the sex lives of its characters, with Lighton insisting on writing out every detail of the sex scenes to ensure everyone involved knew what they were getting into.

  • The film opens in theaters on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Harry Lighton

The writer-director of 'Pillion' who was in town to accept the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation's Breakthrough Artist Award.

Harry Melling

The actor who plays the shy wallflower character of Colin in 'Pillion.'

Alexander Skarsgård

The actor who plays the hunky motorcycle man named Ray in 'Pillion.'

Adam Mars-Jones

The author of the 2020 novel 'Box Hill: A Story of Low Self-Esteem,' which 'Pillion' is loosely based on.

William Friedkin

The director of the controversial 1980 film 'Cruising,' which featured gay leather scene imagery that Lighton wanted to redefine with 'Pillion.'

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What they’re saying

“I thought it was interesting to make it equal parts inviting and off-putting. I mean, off-putting to an audience who wouldn't be initiated into that kind of thing, or might find aspects of Ray and Colin's relationship repellent.”

— Harry Lighton, Writer-director (wbur.org)

“I grew up comfort-watching romantic comedies. I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if I could comfort-watch a romantic comedy that spoke more to my desires?'”

— Harry Lighton, Writer-director (wbur.org)

“Ray's someone who's practiced long and hard at embodying a sexual fantasy, and that fantasy is partially about impenetrability. But we talked about wanting there to be moments where you saw beneath that well-honed armor. Anyone who's chosen to live their life in a way that defies social convention, it's a courageous thing to do. There are a lot of wins to be had in that, but there are also lots of losses in the way it alienates you from normative society. He's lost out on certain things, you know?”

— Harry Lighton, Writer-director (wbur.org)

“I think, particularly when you're dealing with kink, if you're treating the kink in an oblique way, or you're panning away from it or whatever, then it feels like you as a filmmaker are casting judgement on it as something that deserves to be offscreen. Like it's too scandalous for the screen. So I said, 'We need to be able to see how these guys are f---ing.'”

— Harry Lighton, Writer-director (wbur.org)

“Tiffany was singing it on a reality show, and like all gays throughout history, I was like, 'That song's great!'”

— Harry Lighton, Writer-director (wbur.org)

What’s next

The film is set to open in theaters on Friday, February 13, 2026 and will also be available at the AMC Boston Common and Kendall Square Cinema.

The takeaway

With 'Pillion,' writer-director Harry Lighton has crafted a warm, crowd-pleasing romantic comedy that puts a transgressive twist on the traditional formula, redefining the imagery of the gay leather scene for a modern audience and showing that stories exploring kink and BDSM can be as inviting and relatable as any other rom-com.