There are plenty of horror films that use religion as a backdrop, but Leviticus takes that familiar idea and twists it into something considerably more personal. Adrian Chiarella’s feature debut mixes coming of age romance, supernatural horror and genuine emotional pain, while somehow managing to make the central relationship feel just as important as the monster stalking it.
The story follows Naim, a teenager who moves with his mother to a small Australian community where religion is deeply woven into everyday life. Before long, he develops feelings for Ryan, another boy dealing with many of the same fears and pressures. Their relationship starts innocently enough, but in a community where being different comes with consequences, keeping their feelings hidden becomes increasingly difficult.
And this is where Leviticus starts getting seriously uncomfortable.
Love Can Be A Terrifying Thing
What makes the film work particularly well is that the horror does not immediately arrive with something jumping out of a cupboard. Instead, there is an unsettling feeling that something is wrong long before the supernatural elements properly take a hold.
Once Naim and Ryan become targets, however, things take a considerably darker turn. A supernatural entity begins taking the form of the person its victim desires most, turning attraction into something potentially deadly.
It’s a wonderfully cruel concept.
Imaging finally getting close to the person you desperately want to be with, only to realize that you cannot even trust them to be themselves. Every meeting becomes a gamble. Every affectionate moment could end with someone getting hurt – or worse. Furthermore, the film understands that uncertainty can often be scarier than simply showing us a monster.
There are some nasty moments here too. Leviticus does not shy away from blood and physical violence, and when the horror eventually erupts, it can be brutal. The contrast between the tenderness of the relationship and the pure evil of the violence makes some scenes particularly uncomfortable.
More Than Just A Horror Movie
Leviticus is absolutely a horror film, but it is also heavily interested in repression, religious tolerance and the damage caused when people are taught to fear their own feelings. Some viewers will appreciate the extra depth, while others may find themselves wishing the movie concentrated more heavily on its supernatural side.
Personally, I think the balance works.
Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen give the story its emotional backbone. Their chemistry makes the relationship believable, which is important because without convincing performances from the two leads, the horror concept would not have nearly as much impact.
There is a genuine sense that these are two young people trying to understand what they are feeling while the world around them keeps telling them those feelings are wrong. That makes the supernatural threat feel like an extension of the real danger surrounding them.
A Haunting Debut
There are a few rough edges. The story occasionally feels like it could have explored certain characters and ideas further, while the ending may have some viewers wanting more explanation. The film also spends considerable time developing its romance, meaning anyone looking for nonstop scares might find the pacing restrained.
Nevertheless, that restraint works in its favour more often than not.
Leviticus is not interested in throwing a jump scare at you every few minutes. Instead, it creates an atmosphere of pent-up dread and gradually ties that proverbial noose around its cast of characters. By the time the horror really gets going, the relationship at the center means you actually care about what happens to them next.
Summary
Leviticus is an unsettling brutal and surprisingly emotional horror flick that combines supernatural terror with a touching coming of age story. It will not satisfy everyone looking for a straightforward monster movie, but there is considerably more going on here than simple scares.