Entertainment · Film · 3 hrs ago
Horror film Leviticus turns a conversion ritual into a curse
Leviticus follows two boys who fall in love in a remote Australian town shaped by a strict religious community.
When their relationship is discovered, they and other gay people are made to undergo a ritual intended to change their sexuality.
After the ritual, a curse puts their lives at risk as an unknown creature hunts them.
The creature appears in the face of the person each boy loves most, making it hard to tell a partner from a threat.
The horror reflects the fear and rejection gay people can face when their identities are treated as something to be cured.
Australian director Adrian Chiarella has said the story is personal to him and uses horror to explore queer experience.
The film opens on October 21 and runs for 88 minutes.
Leviticus is an Australian occult horror film about two boys whose community subjects them to a “healing” ritual because they are gay.
After the ritual, a curse sends an unknown creature after the boys, appearing as the person each loves most.
The film follows the boys as they try to escape the curse and explores the fear and isolation faced by queer people.
Directed by Adrian Chiarella, the film stars Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen and Mia Wasikowska.
It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in February and won the feature award and audience award at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in July.
- Who
- The film follows Naim and Ryan, played by Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen. Mia Wasikowska also appears as Naim’s mother.
- What
- Leviticus is an occult horror film about a curse triggered by a “healing” ritual imposed on gay people.
- When
- It premiered in February and is set to open on the 21st. The article does not state the month of the release date.
- Where
- The story takes place in a remote Australian town. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and received awards at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
- Why
- The curse follows a ritual intended to “cure” homosexuality. Director Adrian Chiarella said he wanted to use horror to tell a queer story.
The town’s religious community
Naim and Ryan
Aspect
The town’s religious community
The town’s view
Naim and Ryan
Naim and Ryan’s view
Homosexuality
The town’s religious community
The community regards homosexuality as sinful and subjects gay people to a “salvation healing ritual.
Naim and Ryan
The boys are in love and keep their relationship hidden from the community.
The ritual
The town’s religious community
The ritual is presented as a means of “healing.
Naim and Ryan
The ritual brings a curse that forces the boys to flee from a creature appearing as the person they love most.
Leviticus premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film won the feature award and audience award at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.
The film is scheduled to open; the article does not state the month.
- Director
- Adrian Chiarella
- Runtime
- 88 minutes
- Age rating
- 15 and older
- Lead actors
- Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen
- Festival awards
- Feature award and audience award at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
- Release
- 21st; month not stated in the article
1 source
What people are saying
As a gay man and someone who grew up loving the horror genre, this is a personal work for me.
Many queer storytellers throughout history have used the horror genre as a kind of code to talk about queer experiences. I wanted to use that point again.