Leviticus (2026)

Some horror films use monsters to chase bodies. Others use them to chase feelings. Leviticus, an Australian independent feature from writer-director Adrian Chiarella, belongs firmly to the second camp. Blending supernatural terror with a tender love story, it follows two teenage boys whose budding affection for one another attracts something dangerous — a presence that knows exactly what they want and is willing to wear its face.

What Leviticus Is About (No Spoilers)

Set in a small rural community, the film centres on Naim Reid, played by Joe Bird, and Ryan Whelan, played by Stacy Clausen. Two boys in love find themselves targeted by a violent supernatural force with a cruel trick up its sleeve: it manifests as the very person each of them longs for most.

That premise turns desire itself into the threat. Every moment of closeness between the two leads becomes a doorway the entity can slip through, and the boys are forced to question whether the person in front of them is real. The tagline — "It will never stop." — makes clear that this is a pursuit film as much as a romance, with the menace escalating rather than easing.

The story also engages with conversion therapy, grounding its supernatural dread in a very real kind of harm. Keywords like "queer horror" and "psychological" signal a film more interested in interior fear than in jump-scare mechanics.

Cast and Performances

Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen carry the film as Naim and Ryan, and their chemistry is the engine of everything that works here. Because the entity impersonates the person each boy desires, the actors must play opposite versions of themselves and each other — a demanding brief for young performers, and one the film reportedly leans into.

They are supported by a strong ensemble of familiar Australian faces. Mia Wasikowska, known to international audiences from Jane Eyre and Stoker, plays Arlene Reid. Nicholas Hope appears as a Deliverance Healer, a role that hints at the film's religious and therapeutic undercurrents. Ewen Leslie plays Rod, with Julia Grace as Cathy Whelan, rounding out the family units at the story's centre.

The younger supporting cast — Tyallah Bullock as Marnie, Jeremy Blewitt as Hunter, Davida McKenzie as Izzie, and Shannon Berry as Jessica — fills out the town's social world, giving the boys a community to navigate alongside their private ordeal.

Director, Writers and Production

Adrian Chiarella writes and directs, making Leviticus a deeply personal auteur project rather than a committee horror picture. Behind the camera, the producers are Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton and Hannah Ngo, with executive producers Salman Al-Rashid, Simmons Frazier and Sam Frohman.

Causeway Films — the Australian shingle behind acclaimed genre fare — produces alongside Salmira Productions, with backing from Screen Australia and VicScreen. That combination of national funding bodies and a boutique genre house is a hallmark of the current wave of elevated Australian horror.

The technical crew is notably strong for an independent feature. Composer Jed Kurzel handles the score, cinematographer Tyson Perkins shapes the look, and Nick Fenton edits. The film runs a lean 88 minutes, arriving in 2026.

Themes, Tone and Style

At its core, Leviticus is about what happens when love is treated as something to be cured. The conversion-therapy thread and the presence of a Deliverance Healer suggest a story where institutional and supernatural cruelty mirror each other — the entity simply externalises the harm already being done to these boys.

Tonally, expect psychological horror rather than gore-forward shock. The genre blend with romance means intimacy and dread share the same scenes; the thing you want is also the thing hunting you. That duality gives the film its distinctive tension and its place in the growing queer horror tradition.

With an 88-minute runtime and a rural Australian setting, the film promises a contained, atmospheric experience — small-town isolation, family pressure, and a threat that cannot be outrun, only understood.

Who Will Enjoy It

Viewers drawn to character-driven horror — the kind where the monster is a metaphor — are the obvious audience. Fans of queer cinema looking for genre storytelling that takes LGBTQ+ teenage experience seriously, rather than using it as bait, will find a lot to respond to.

It should also appeal to followers of the Australian horror renaissance and of Mia Wasikowska's genre work. Those after a fast, loud scare-fest may find the psychological pacing quieter than expected; the film trades spectacle for emotional weight.

Where to Watch Leviticus in the US

For US viewers, Leviticus is available through digital purchase on the Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video and YouTube.

If you prefer renting, the same platforms — Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube — plus Plex offer digital rentals. Availability can vary over time, so it is worth checking your platform of choice before settling in for the night.

Similar Titles Worth Exploring

If the premise hooks you, several films occupy nearby territory. Queer horror that treats identity and desire as the battleground includes a growing shelf of titles worth seeking out, and the conversion-therapy angle connects the film to broader conversations in the genre.

Causeway Films' own catalogue is a natural next stop, given the producers' track record with atmospheric Australian horror. Jed Kurzel's scoring work and Mia Wasikowska's genre appearances also offer threads to follow if you want more from the people behind this one.