Horror Film 'Leviticus' Tackles Homophobia With Demonic Dread

Writer-director Adrian Chiarella's debut feature, "Leviticus," confronts homophobia and anxieties surrounding religious conversion therapy through a unique horror lens. The film portrays two teenage boys in Australia who fall in love, only to be terrorized by demonic entities that mirror their deepest desires after a conversion experience.

Chiarella aimed to capture the unsettling atmosphere of rising anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment in Australia by merging it with the genre of horror, which he sees as a space for exploring profound fears and otherness. He meticulously balanced the romantic connection between leads Naim and Ryan with the escalating terror, fine-tuning every scene until just before the film's premiere.

To cultivate genuine chemistry between actors Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen, Chiarella engaged them in extensive bonding activities. These included road trips, role-playing in public spaces, and shared experiences like escape rooms and handling snakes, all designed to make their onscreen relationship feel authentic.

"Leviticus" has garnered significant buzz, debuting at Sundance and leading to a seven-figure acquisition by Neon. The film's arrival in theaters follows a trend of successful, auteur-driven horror, with Chiarella noting the genre's resurgence is driven by audiences seeking emotional engagement and its appeal to new directorial voices.