TL;DR
- Pillion’s home release is R-rated.
- The original version featured graphic content.
- Skarsgård’s scene was heavily edited.
- MPA deemed some scenes too realistic.
- Two versions of Pillion exist.
If you missed the chance to catch Pillion in theaters, hold onto your hats because the home release is here, but it’s not quite the same ride. The BDSM/biker flick starring the ever-so-charming Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling hit UK screens last year and finally made its way to the US earlier this year. But guess what? You won’t be getting the full, uncut experience at home.
Indie film distributor Jasper Basch recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to drop a little truth bomb: “PSA: The Pillion you get at home will be an edited down version of the Pillion you saw in theatres, which presumably would have been rated NC-17.” That’s right, folks! The home video version has been tamed down to an R rating, officially making it the only version titled Pillion available for streaming.
Now, if you’re wondering what’s missing, let’s just say the cinema version didn’t shy away from showing it all. We’re talking about a very close-up, in-your-face shot of Skarsgård’s character Ray’s pierced penis (yes, it’s prosthetic, but still!), along with plenty of steamy sex scenes and all the delightful noises that accompany them. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) slapped an 18 rating on the UK release for “strong sex” and “nudity,” and they kept that same rating for the at-home version. But in the US, the movie initially hit theaters in its “NR” (Not Rated) format, flaunting all its graphic glory.
So why the change? According to reports, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) told A24, the film company behind Pillion, that some of the sex scenes were “too realistic.” Talk about a buzzkill! The MPA requested edits that included toning down the sexual content during the first meet between Ray and Colin (Melling), the wrestling scene, and even the bikers’ picnic. Oh, and they also wanted the prop semen on Colin to be “de-shined.” Because who needs that kind of realism, right?
In total, there are two versions of Pillion: the NR version that was screened at festivals and in theaters, and the newly minted R-rated version that’s now available for home viewing. So, if you’re planning to binge-watch this flick from the comfort of your couch, just know you’re in for a softer version of the wild ride that had audiences buzzing.
What do you think of this editing decision? Will you still tune in to see Skarsgård in action, or are you holding out for the uncut version? Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep it respectful!
https://x.com/jasperbasch/status/2037378534386135189?s=20