Everything you need to know about the gay supernatural horror Leviticus
Is Leviticus the best gay horror of the year? (Neon)
Leviticus, an Australian queer supernatural horror-romance film, is being branded the best queer horror film of the year.
Writer-director Adrian Chiarella’s feature debut had a triumphant premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Now out in some countries, the film sheds new light on conversion therapy as a trope.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the release of Leviticus…
What is the movie Leviticus about?
Leviticus follows high school classmates Naim and Ryan as they develop feelings for each other in a deeply religious community.
When they are discovered, the church forces them to experience an exorcism, a form of so-called conversion therapy. Then, a violent entity is unleashed that shape-shifts into the person they love most.
Chiarella’s film then follows the pair as they navigate young love and this alternative coming-of-age experience nestled in a deeply hostile small town.
The official synopsis reads: “Two teenage boys must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most – each other.”
Is the Leviticus movie LGBTQ?
Yes, Leviticus is certainly a queer film, with its central gay romance between two teenage boys in a small Australian town.
The central premise of Leviticus is a metaphor for the queer experience and internalised homophobia.
The shape-shifting supernatural entity appears in physical form as each teenage boy, relying on their forbidden gay desire. In turn, these teenage doppelgängers are a terrifying depiction of repressed sexuality.
Additionally, Leviticus also offers a timely perspective on conversion therapy. The film follows recent explorations of conversation therapy – including Boy Erased and The Miseducation of Cameron Post – but takes a distinctly horror approach.
Furthermore, Leviticus is named after the Old Testament chapter, often cited as justification for anti-LGBTQ+ perspectives.
“The genre of horror movies has operated as this secret code amongst queer people,” Chiarella said of his film.
“We are so drawn to horror movies because we’re watching not just the heroes in these films be terrorised by monsters – but there’s also this sense of what it means to be the monster. What it means to be demonised and to be pushed to the fringes of society.”
Who is in the cast of Leviticus?
The leads, Naim and Ryan, are played by Talk to Me’s Joe Bird and Thrash’s Stacy Clausen, respectively.
Elsewhere, Bergman Island’s Mia Wasikowska plays Arlene, Naim’s mother.
The Nightingale’s Ewen Leslie is Rod, Hunter’s father, while Davida McKenzie is Izzie, Hunter’s sister.
When is Leviticus coming out?
Leviticus is out Friday (19 June) in Australia and the US.
Though, sadly, there is currently no UK release or streaming date for the film.
