This is a complicated movie for me. Hopefully the following word vomit "review" makes sense. I struggle with feeling joy towards a story that has people continuously mistreating characters I like. I especially dislike when the character I like doesn't stick up for themselves. It generally makes connecting with the movie difficult. Not all the time, but certainly Pillion is an example. I also struggle to connect with "sub/dom" relationships. I understand the structure, but for me, I am incapable of having that one-sidedness (that does not accurately describe BDSM relationships. I know they're not "one-sided". Hopefully I'll be able to come back to this review after I think of better wording.) Anyway, all of that is to say this: I absolutely ADORED Harry Melling in this role. Colin is the sweetest character and seeing him smile made me incredibly happy. Colin's parents are a very nice change from common depictions of awkward or bigoted parents of queer adults. His mom was exceptionally strong (ESPECIALLY given her clearly weakened state) and while I began to understand Ray's line of thinking when, during the family dinner, he says something like "you don't need to like it, it's not for you", Colin's mother calling him a cunt was appreciated (from a parent's point of view). Alexander Skarsgård's character is frustrating. But I feel he tiptoes this fine line of all out prick, and simply having a strict, purposeful intent. I liked the growth shown in Colin's new boundaries he sets in his new dating profile. Can't wait to go watch more films with Harry Melling <3 I'm still digesting this movie and I'm not sure if I can leave my rating at a 4/5, but it's where I'm at right now. I can see bringing it down, but I don't know. Maybe I'll watch it again in ten years.

I cannot believe Ray made Collin cook him a damn meal after his mother’s funeral. The absolute nerve of that man… 💀 May this kind of love never find me, even on my worst days.