Queer Horror: 'Leviticus' Uses Fashion as a Weapon

Costume designer Zohie Castellano views horror as a genre that allows confrontation with societal dangers, particularly for queer individuals. In the film 'Leviticus,' Castellano's work visually maps the harrowing journey of its characters.

Key costumes, such as Ryan's outfit that transforms into the monster's guise and Naim's increasingly form-fitting layers, signify their evolving self-acceptance. The Deliverance Healer's ill-pressed suit, described as shiny like frog skin, also contributes to the film's unsettling aesthetic.

Castellano incorporated script-inspired textures like leather, lace, and knotty knits to evoke demonic and toxic elements within the community. A deliberate choice for a restrained color palette in the costumes, contrasting with more vibrant set designs, visually underscores the characters' yearning and isolation.

This visual strategy, developed in collaboration with production designer Bethany Ryan, effectively portrays the characters' alienation. The costumes, therefore, serve not just as clothing but as a critical narrative tool, guiding the audience through the characters' internal and external conflicts within a world that is almost right, but not quite.