Leviticus Horror Film Explores Queer Love, Conversion Trauma
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- 'Leviticus' premiered at Sundance in January to rave reviews and was acquired by Neon for a theatrical release, now playing in U.S. cinemas.
- Joe Bird plays Naim, a gay teenager in a conservative Australian town who becomes entangled with a supernatural entity that mimics the person he desires most—his love interest Ryan.
- Stacy Clausen portrays both Ryan and the monstrous entity that imitates him, with the creature feeding on desire and replacing emotional intimacy with fear.
- Adrian Chiarella, the film’s director and a queer man, shaped the story to reflect real experiences of conversion therapy, assigning actors monologues from conversion therapy documentaries during pre-production.
- Mia Wasikowska appears as Naim’s mother Arlene, who brings him to a pastor for a 'cleansing' ritual, echoing the film’s critique of fear-driven parental responses to queerness.
- Neon acquired 'Leviticus' after its Sundance premiere, positioning the Australian indie horror as a breakout title in queer and genre cinema.
Why it matters: The film’s release marks a rare fusion of authentic queer storytelling and horror, using supernatural metaphor to expose the psychological violence of conversion practices. With Neon’s distribution, a small Australian indie reaches a global audience, challenging mainstream horror’s treatment of LGBTQ+ narratives while amplifying real-world awareness of ongoing conversion therapy.
