Two teenage boys must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most - each other.
Where to Watch Leviticus
- Ravi Oliveira1d agoSynopsis: Two teenagers living in a conservative Christian community in Australia begin a secret romance. Review: “Leviticus,” Adrian Chiarella’s feature directorial debut, is built around a rather compelling idea: an entity capable of taking the form of someone you have feelings for, turning that connection into a source of fear. What makes the premise even more interesting is the way it connects to the protagonists’ experiences. These are two young people who must deal not only with a supernatural threat, but also with feelings they have been taught to see as wrong. Horror is no longer confined to the creature itself; it becomes intertwined with the characters’ own intimacy, making what should represent safety and affection a source of suspicion. It is an approach that brings the film closer to real-world issues without abandoning the suspense at the heart of its story. Chiarella’s direction shows considerable care in building the atmosphere. Rather than constantly relying on sudden jump scares, the film uses shadows, empty spaces, and the sense that something is wrong even when nothing seems to be happening. The Australian countryside adds to this discomfort, with landscapes that emphasize the characters’ isolation and make their surroundings seem just as threatening as the entity itself. There is an interesting restraint in the way the horror is presented, allowing fear to grow out of anticipation and uncertainty. This choice gives the film a distinct visual identity and shows that Chiarella has a strong understanding of how to use space and cinematography to create tension. The creature is also one of the strongest elements of the premise, particularly because of its ability to turn familiar faces into something threatening. The concept recalls elements of classic horror films, but finds its own direction by connecting the supernatural threat to desire, identity, and the fear of being oneself. The danger lies not simply in encountering a monster, but in not knowing whether what appears to offer love is truly safe. This uncertainty creates unsettling situations because it directly affects the relationship between the protagonists and the people around them. However, the entity’s mythology leaves some questions unanswered, and the film does not always explore every possibility its central idea offers. It is in its emotional dimension that “Leviticus” finds much of its meaning. The relationship between the protagonists is tied to internalized homophobia and the consequences of growing up in an environment that treats one’s identity as something condemnable. In this context, the entity can be interpreted as a manifestation of the fear and guilt imposed on the characters, especially when affection becomes associated with punishment. The horror gains strength precisely because it does not exist separately from their reality. There is already a form of violence preceding the supernatural threat, shaped by the social and religious pressures that influence how they see themselves. The film manages to bring these elements together without reducing the romance entirely to a secondary plot device, although the relationship could have benefited from more time to give certain emotional changes greater weight. The main limitation lies in how quickly the narrative moves forward. At approximately an hour and a half, the film introduces its characters, establishes the supernatural conflict, and develops complex emotional themes, but some of these elements end up competing for space. Certain aspects of the central relationship deserved more moments of interaction, allowing the bond between the protagonists to develop more naturally before being put to the test. The same applies to the entity, which sparks curiosity but does not always receive the depth it needs. This is not a matter of lacking ideas; quite the opposite. The film gives the impression that it has enough material to develop its concepts much further. “Leviticus” stands out for the way it uses horror to explore identity, desire, and repression without relying exclusively on explanations or speeches. Chiarella’s direction demonstrates a distinct voice, the premise offers unsettling images and situations, and the connection between the monster and the protagonists’ inner conflicts gives the story a dimension that goes beyond physical danger. The fast pace prevents some relationships and ideas from reaching their full potential, but it does not diminish the strength of the film as a whole. It is a film that leaves you wanting to spend more time in its world, not because its story is incomplete in every respect, but because its best ideas deserved more room to breathe and lead to even more profound consequences.
- Atomic70July 28, 2026Leviticus 20:13 “If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads”. Leviticus is a bold, unsettling film that confronts the intersection of religion, sexuality, and shame. It doesn’t attack faith; it attacks the misuse of faith to justify cruelty. Its portrayal of internalized homophobia is one of its strongest achievements, offering a raw look at how doctrine can become a prison when interpreted without empathy.
- Spanktacular5d agoBoysession
- williamw834July 30, 2026This movie really hits deep for those of us who fear just loving people. The movie is incredible, and it’s sort of a metaphor. The world around us doesn’t want queer people to love each other, so they hate, violate, threaten, and even hurt or kill us and the entity really just is that fear. I’m not sure if that was the intention behind the movie but it really does remind me of that simple, annoying fear.
- macaronzJuly 28, 2026Came for the Horror, Stayed for the Gay Romance 🏳️🌈 👻 A bit of a mixed bag for me. On the visual side, it's fantastic the aesthetic and overall vibe of the film are set up really well. The main issue is that it feels way more like a gay romance than an actual scary movie. In the film, a harsh religious community tries to "cleanse" two teenage boys (Naim and Ryan) of their feelings for each other. The supernatural entity that haunts them takes the literal form of each other the person they desire most. The message is that when a society forces you to suppress and feel immense shame about who you love, your own natural desires start to feel like a terrifying, inescapable monster tracking your every move. It’s basically a romance drama disguised in a spooky coat of paint. But hey, Joe Bird acts his heart out and carries the whole thing, so at least the performances didn't disappoint!
- Oʂɯαʅԃσ RσყҽƚƚJuly 29, 2026Very glad I watched this! There were a few moments of absolute nail biting tension, a few jump scares, and a few gorey scenes. Very solid movie overall.
- Johan Bjørn Wijnen6d agoGood story
- AjayAugust 20, 2026There is no one worse than one who stands by and does nothing. And that's exactly what Leviticus capitalises on. Bird and Clausen give some spectacular performances, and the fact there is no "monster" - just the faces of each other - makes for a genuinely unsettling fear mechanic. The religious undertones and ignorant adults fuel the fire, making it seem like no matter where these two boys turn, respite is never to be found. Absolutely awesome film.
- Luna SoleAugust 20, 2026I enjoyed this one very much. Horror-romance can definitely work when it has the right subject, as it does here. There are no jump scares, yet the film is genuinely frightening. The very idea that a group of people could be so evil as to make their own children the targets of a demon simply because they refuse to accept them as they are is utterly horrifying. And summoning a demon that takes the form of the person they love? That’s especially twisted. How sick.
- manesjulyenOctober 3, 2026New ideas in horror are refreshing. Made me think about Nightmare on Elm Street for the originality of the killer…
- What_A_JinxJuly 29, 2026With parents like those, maybe my dad leaving me to get cereals and never coming back wasn't such a D-move.
- old_computerSeptember 4, 2026Generic and clearly used some AI slop to generate quick results.
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Leviticus was released on June 17, 2026.
Leviticus was directed by Adrian Chiarella.
Leviticus has a runtime of 87m.
Leviticus was produced by Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton, Hannah Ngo.
Two teenage boys must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most - each other.
The key characters in Leviticus are Naim Reid (Joe Bird), Ryan Whelan (Stacy Clausen), Arlene Reid (Mia Wasikowska).
Leviticus is rated R.
Leviticus is a Horror, Romance, Science Fiction film.
Leviticus has an audience rating of 8.2 out of 10.
Leviticus had a budget of $3.5M.
Leviticus has made $8.5M at the box office.