Australia is on a horror streak at the moment, with massive hits like Talk To Me, The Babadook and Bring Her Back, the land down under seems to be the central point for horror that is capturing the world by storm. With 2026 half over (I know! Don’t get me started!) we finally have our next homegrown horror hit with first time feature film director Adrian Chiarella. By using religion, a tool often used in horror movies, Chiarella explores the subject of conversion therapy and the horror of what happens when the ones you love the most turn on you. It is brutal, harrowing and will hit horribly close to home for the members of the queer community who have had similar real life experiences.
The story is set in a rural town in South Australia, close to the outback, the town is centered around an evangelical church (think Hillsong/Planet Shakers) when two teenagers Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen) spend an afternoon in an abandoned barn, they let their walls down and give into their feelings for each other. They try their best to keep things under wraps, but when their parents suspect what’s actually going on, they intervene and call on a preacher to try conversion therapy. During the therapy ritual, a demon is unleashed in each of them, taking form of the one they are attracted to (each other!) What follows is a constant guessing game of is each boy who they appear to be everytime they are on screen, that leans into the horror of the one you love the most being the one who appears to be out to kill you.
The movie makes no apologies about tackling such a large issue like homophobia, and the attitude of those around them see death as the only way to stop these desires. This in hand is played to perfection by Mia Wasikowska whi plays Naim’s mother, she knows how to play it cool and keep her love and concern concealed so you can feel it through the screen, although deeply veiled by the performance.
None of this would be possible without the outstanding performances from the two leads. Bird who is still riding high of his performance in 2022’s Talk to Me, delivers another memorable performance here. Not only delivering a stoic performance of his own, but his chemistry with Clausen is clearly evident through their on-screen relationship. The admiration, love and longing that quickly turns to terror is performed flawlessly. Everyime they appear in front of one another and you are figuring out if they are the real person or a manifestation of the demon, both actors give no tell adding to the suspense in these moments.
Chiarella does center the film around the idea of conversion therapy and the lasting horror that it leaves, however it can be interpreted as so much more than that. Anyone who has ever felt “othered” or confused about who they were growing up and the adults in your life telling you that it’s not ok becomes a huge part of the central themes of this story.
While at its core the film plays as a horror movie, there are moments where it crosses over into being a love story, showing the joy of discovering love for the first time. Chiarella does this flawlessly allowing the remoteness of small town life and “everyone knows everyone and their business” to really shine through in these tender moments. Traditional horror fans may be disappointed with the lack of jump scares or gory moments, the true horror here lies in the ever lingering sense of dread that everyone around you is willing to do whatever it takes to stop you from being who you truly are.
Leviticus packs a massive emotional punch. It is a breathtaking errie ode to queer survival in a time where being part of the queer community is increasingly becoming more dangerous. Chiarella flawlessly reinvents this idea into the horror genre and with a “less is more” approach to the horror aspect of the story, he delivers a solid first feature film that is an absolute must see on the big screen.
Leviticus is in cinemas June 19.
