Forget festive schmaltz, the best Christmas film this year is a gay biker dom-com | Kitty Grady

Forget the festive feel-good factor, this year's best Christmas film defies traditional notions of holiday cheer. Pillion, released last week, is a game-changer in the genre, boldly subverting the expected merriment and instead embracing a more nuanced and thought-provoking approach.

Writer-director Harry Lighton's breakout feature, based on Adam Mars-Jones's novel Box Hill, tells the story of Ray, a non-conforming biker, and Colin, his relationship partner. The film takes place against the backdrop of Christmas in suburban Bromley, where Ray invites Colin to join him for a date on Christmas Day.

Here, Lighton skillfully conjures a sense of unease and discomfort, offsetting the festive atmosphere with an air of tension and uncertainty. This deliberate jarring of holiday cheer is precisely what makes Pillion such a refreshing departure from the saccharine sentimentality that often characterizes other Christmas films.

By refusing to sentimentalize or gloss over the complexities of human relationships, Lighton's film serves as a scathing critique of heteronormative expectations and domesticity. The result is a work that feels both intellectually stimulating and deeply unsettling – an ideal marriage of aesthetic and intellectual terrain.

Compared to more traditional Christmas fare like Love Actually or The Holiday, Pillion stands out for its willingness to push boundaries and challenge expectations. These films are content to tick off the usual festive boxes – rom-coms, witty banter, and overwrought sentimentality – but Lighton's film takes a different approach.

In doing so, it reminds us that Christmas can be many things: a time of love and connection, yes, but also a complex web of emotions, desires, and contradictions. By refusing to shy away from the messy realities of human experience, Pillion delivers a nuanced and thought-provoking portrayal of Christmas that feels both deeply unsettling and profoundly moving.

Ultimately, this year's best Christmas film is one that demands to be seen on its own terms, unencumbered by expectations or preconceptions. Pillion is that film – a work of art that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the holiday season and our place within it.

I'm so down for a Christmas movie that doesn't sugarcoat everything . Lighton's direction is so refreshing, I mean, who wants to watch a rom-com that's just gonna make 'em all feel all warm fuzzy inside? Not me, that's for sure! I love how Pillion subverts the traditional holiday vibes and gives us something real, you know? It's like, yeah, Christmas can be super weird and uncomfortable at times...like, have you ever tried to navigate holiday gatherings with a non-conforming biker? . Seriously though, it's dope that Lighton is pushing boundaries and challenging our expectations of what a "Christmas movie" should be. The emotional tension in the film is insane, like I was on the edge of my seat the whole time .

I think this year's best Christmas film defies traditional notions of holiday cheer . Writer-director Harry Lighton's breakout feature, Pillion, is so refreshing because it doesn't shy away from the complexities of human relationships . It takes a more nuanced approach to the holiday season, embracing an air of tension and uncertainty instead of saccharine sentimentality .

I love how it challenges heteronormative expectations and domesticity, making for a scathing critique that's both intellectually stimulating and deeply unsettling . Compared to traditional Christmas fare like Love Actually or The Holiday, Pillion really stands out for pushing boundaries and taking risks .

It's perfect because Christmas can be many things: love and connection, yes, but also emotions, desires, and contradictions . By refusing to shy away from the messy realities of human experience, Pillion delivers a thought-provoking portrayal that feels both unsettling and profoundly moving .

I think we need more films like this one that remind us that Christmas is a complex web of emotions and experiences . It's definitely a film that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the holiday season .

I just watched this new Christmas film Pillion and I gotta say, it's giving me some real feels It's not your typical feel-good festive flick like Love Actually or The Holiday. This one's more like, actually thinking about stuff . Like, it's about relationships and identity and all that jazz . Harry Lighton is a genius for subverting the usual Christmas cheer vibe and making us think about what the holiday season really means to us . I loved how it challenged my expectations and made me uncomfortable at times - that's when I knew it was doing something right . Definitely not your average Christmas movie, but I kinda love it for that

omg i just watched pilion and i'm still reeling from the experience! i love how it subverts traditional christmas movie tropes and instead gives us this complex, nuanced portrayal of human relationships and desires . the way lighton handles tension and unease is so masterful – it's like he's speaking directly to your soul . what really resonated with me was the film's critique of heteronormative expectations and domesticity . it's so refreshing to see a christmas movie that doesn't shy away from messy realities . i need to see this again and discuss it with fellow film lovers ASAP

I'm really loving this new Christmas film Pillion . It's so refreshing to see a movie that actually tackles some real issues, like non-conforming relationships and the pressure to fit in. The way Lighton subverts traditional notions of holiday cheer is pure genius - it's like he's saying "hey, let's talk about the uncomfortable stuff" rather than just glossing over it with feel-good sentimentality.

I mean, let's be real, Christmas can be a pretty messy time for some people. It's easy to get caught up in all the cheer and love, but what about those who don't fit into traditional holiday roles? Who are the ones feeling pressure to conform or hide their true selves? Pillion gives me permission to acknowledge those feelings and have a nuanced conversation about them.

I'm so excited to see more films like this one that challenge our expectations and push us out of our comfort zones. It's time for some real Christmas storytelling, you know?

I gotta say, I'm loving how this movie is just like my aunt at Christmas dinner - all smiles on the outside but secretly judging everyone for their life choices . But seriously, who needs saccharine rom-coms when you can have a film that actually explores the complexities of human relationships? I mean, it's Christmas, not some cheesy Hallmark special . And let's be real, Pillion is like the anti-Love Actually - instead of all those meet-cutes and romantic gestures, it's just two dudes being themselves and trying to make each other happy . More like my type of holiday vibes!

I'm not convinced Pillion is the best Christmas film ever . What's with all this hype? It sounds like just another indie flick trying to be artsy and edgy . I mean, a biker who invites his partner on Christmas Day in suburban Bromley? Sounds kinda weird to me .

Where are the sources for these claims about it being a "scathing critique" of heteronormative expectations and domesticity? Is this just some film critic's opinion or is there actual research backing it up?

And what's with all the emotional language? "Deliberate jarring of holiday cheer", "intellectually stimulating and deeply unsettling"... sounds like some over-the-top marketing speak to me . I need to see some hard data or reviews from multiple critics before I buy into this one .

tbh I'm so done with all those feel-good Christmas movies they just make me roll my eyes. Pillion is like the ultimate refreshing change of pace, you know? It's not afraid to get uncomfortable and talk about some real issues like non-conforming relationships and societal expectations. And can we talk about how bold it is to subvert all those traditional Christmas movie tropes? it's like a breath of fresh air! I mean, who needs all that sappy romance and sentimentality when you can have something that actually makes you think? Pillion is the perfect antidote to all that sugary holiday cheer. It's time for some real Christmas movies, you feel me?

I'm so obsessed with this new Christmas flick, Pillion ! I love how it's like a breath of fresh air in an industry that can be so cheesy and predictable during the holidays. The way it tackles complex themes like non-conforming relationships and societal expectations is honestly so refreshing . It's not your typical feel-good holiday movie, but that's what makes it so thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating . I mean, who says Christmas can't be about challenging our assumptions and pushing boundaries? Pillion is like a wake-up call for the holiday season, reminding us that life is messy and complicated, but still beautiful in its own way . Can't wait to rewatch it again with my squad!

Wow this Christmas film thingy sounds kinda deep man... I mean, who needs all that cheesy romance stuff when you can have some real talk about human relationships? It's like, Christmas can be super messed up, you know? All that pretending to be merry and bright when things are actually pretty dark. Interesting

I'm actually really loving this new Christmas movie Pillion. Like I know it's not your typical feel-good holiday flick, but honestly, I needed something to shake me out of my festive coma . The way they subvert traditional notions of holiday cheer is so refreshingly honest - I love how it's all about embracing the complexities and messiness of human relationships instead of just relying on sappy sentimentality .

I think what resonates with me most is that it doesn't shy away from challenging heteronormative expectations and domesticity. It's like, we're so used to being told what love and family should look like, but Pillion shows us that there's more to it than just a perfect little box .

It's also rad how the film takes risks and pushes boundaries - I mean, not every Christmas movie needs to be some cheesy rom-com with a bunch of overwrought sentimentality . This one? It's like a breath of fresh air .

I gotta say, this new Christmas flick "Pillion" is like a shot across the bow of traditional holiday cinema . It's all about subverting expectations and not shying away from the messy realities of human relationships. I mean, who needs sappy rom-coms when you can have a film that's actually thought-provoking? The way it challenges heteronormative expectations is like a wake-up call to the industry – let's not be afraid to push boundaries! It's also interesting how it critiques domesticity and the complexities of human emotions. I think this film is like a breath of fresh air, you know? It's like our politicians are finally getting the message – we need nuanced thinking, not just feel-good propaganda .

I'm loving how this new Christmas movie Pillion is giving traditional holiday vibes a serious shake-up . I mean, who says Christmas has to be all sunshine and rainbows? It's great that writer-director Harry Lighton is tackling some real issues like heteronormative expectations and domesticity in a way that feels both thought-provoking and unsettling . The fact that it's a game-changer in the genre is totally justified - we need more movies that challenge our assumptions and make us feel all the feels . And let's be real, if Pillion can leave you questioning everything about Christmas, then that's already a win for me .

Ugh, another overhyped Christmas movie . I mean, who thought it was a good idea to put a queer biker in a romantic relationship on Christmas Day? It's just too extra . And don't even get me started on the whole "subverting traditional notions of holiday cheer" thing . Can't we just have a lighthearted, feel-good movie for once? I went into Pillion expecting something festive and fun, but what I got was a bunch of awkward tension and uncomfortable moments . It's like they took all the festivity out of Christmas and replaced it with...whatever this is . Give me a rom-com with some actual romance and not so much angst any day .

I'm obsessed with this new Christmas movie Pillion! It's so refreshing to see a film that actually explores the complexities of human relationships and doesn't shy away from the messy realities of life. The way it subverts traditional notions of holiday cheer is genius, and I love how it makes you feel all kinds of emotions - unease, tension, and even discomfort (in a good way!). It's like, yeah, Christmas can be so much more than just a time for love and connection... it can also be about questioning everything we thought we knew about ourselves and our place in the world. I need to watch this again and discuss with my friends ASAP!

I don't get why everyone's making such a fuss over this movie... I mean, what's wrong with watching some cheesy rom-com on Christmas? It's all just a bunch of feel-good vibes, but Pillion is like taking all that joy and turning it into a existential crisis . Who wants to watch two guys sitting at home feeling uncomfortable about their relationship on Christmas Day? Sounds like a total downer fest... I'll stick with my traditional holiday films, thanks

I'm low-key obsessed with this new Christmas movie Pillion ! It's like, so refreshing to see a film that actually talks about the messy realities of relationships and human emotions instead of just spewing out cheesy sentimentality . I loved how they subverted all our expectations of what a 'traditional' Christmas film should be... it's like, yeah, Christmas can be weird and uncomfortable sometimes ! The way the director tackled themes of non-conformity and domesticity was so thought-provoking and made me think about my own relationships in a whole new way . Can't wait to discuss this with fellow film nerds and debate the finer points of Pillion's cinematic genius

I gotta say, this Christmas film Pillion is giving me some major thoughts ! I mean, who needs sappy romance or feel-good vibes when you can have something that's actually real and relatable? It's like, yeah, Christmas isn't all rainbows and unicorns, sometimes it's just awkward and uncomfortable . Lighton's got skills for subverting the traditional holiday movie formula and creating something that's actually thought-provoking. I'm loving how he's not afraid to tackle complex issues like heteronormative expectations and domesticity in a way that's both intellectually stimulating and deeply unsettling. It's like, we need more movies that make us feel uncomfortable, you know?

idk why ppl need a sappy Christmas movie that just makes them feel all warm fuzzy inside pillion sounds like a breath of fresh air tho, cant wait to see how it goes down! think its cool how its subverting the traditional christmas vibes and instead embracing a more complex, nuanced approach. dont get me wrong, i love me some festive rom-coms but theres room for something different too