WRITER & DIRECTOR
Adrian Chiarella

STARS
Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Mia Wasikowska, Ewan Leslie, Nicholas Hope and Jeremy Blewitt

First and foremost, it is encouraging and very pleasing to see the Australian LGBTQIA+ film landscape grow more diverse each year, with the likes of adult animated sci-fi comedy Lesbian Space Princess last year and now horror film Leviticus.

Set in Victoria and unfolding in a smaller version of America’s bible belt, newcomer Naim (Talk to Me star Joe Bird) and his mother (Mia Wasikowska) attend a conservative Christian sect led by a pastor (Ewan Leslie). Naim’s mother seems to feel right at home, but Naim is more interested in strapping fellow teen, Ryan (Stacy Clausen). Soon after the boys establish Naim’s interest is mutual but agree to maintaining secrecy, the presence of a supernatural entity threatens to put a violent end to their embryonic romance.

Should any person belonging to a less progressive denomination of Christianity even hear of this film, I am equally certain that Christ won’t ever be returning to save them as I am that they will go nowhere near this film! If any inexplicably did, they would undoubtedly label the supernatural entity’s actions as God’s just condemnation of man’s abomination. As it turns out, this first-time feature film from queer filmmaker Adrian Chiarella is a cleverly conceived idea that borrows a process practiced by some of those tongue-speaking tribalists and throws it right back at them with tormented truth.

This component of the film, an essential albeit not instantly or always recognisable part, where an uninvited and unwelcomed third wheel enters Naim and Ryan’s closeted companionship succeeds at making Leviticus more than just a horror film with non-heterosexual lead characters. The script’s forming of the entity and its development of the threat to cause significant harm it brings is capable of being effective yet feels unoriginal and restricts its own boundaries. In ways, it is reminiscent of 2014 horror film It Follows, though it must be said Naim does just as much stalker-like following of Ryan in Leviticus than ‘It’ did of its targets in It Follows.

Nevertheless, what the script does generate early and keep good momentum on is how these boys escape or overcome the entity. Understanding its origin could prove vital. Can it be outsmarted? Outrun? Killed? Again, while the ideas executed are satisfactory, there are numerous others I could think to explore on a low budget that weren’t. These mostly comprise a way or two the boys could help each other during the situation and a few that pertain to finding a possible solution to overcoming it.

Overall, Leviticus is a solid and effective enough entry into the genre that possesses a great concept but needed greater development from beginning through to end to seize its full potential.

Leviticus is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from June 18th, 2026.

Moviedoc thanks Maslow Entertainment and Nixco for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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