--- title: "Leviticus" year: 2026 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/leviticus" fi1m_id: "leviticus" imdb_id: "tt39143902" tmdb_id: 1564614 wikidata_id: "Q137557964" fi1m_score: 80 critics_score: 76 critics_reviews: 11 published: "2026-09-14" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:23.061253+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Leviticus (2026) Directed by Adrian Chiarella · 1h 28m · MPA R · Horror, Romance ## Identity Leviticus - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/leviticus - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** leviticus - **IMDb ID:** tt39143902 - **TMDB ID:** 1564614 - **Wikidata ID:** Q137557964 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39143902/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1564614, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q137557964 **Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 76 from 11 reviews *In a sentence:* First love is difficult enough without the adults arranging an exorcism > The boys’ romance is reason enough to watch Adrian Chiarella’s unsettling horror film. Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen make the attraction convincing, though some blunt dialogue and a late dip in tension need forgiving. ## Synopsis Naim Reid (Joe Bird) and Ryan Whelan (Stacy Clausen) are teenagers drawn to each other in a conservative rural community. Their attraction brings them into conflict with religious beliefs that treat queer desire as something to be cured. An exorcism intended to change them leads to a stalking presence, making the prospect of intimacy dangerous. The boys face a supernatural threat tied to the feelings their community wants them to suppress. Adrian Chiarella writes and directs this horror romance, with Mia Wasikowska as Arlene Reid and Nicholas Hope as the Deliverance Healer. ## Review *Leviticus* is a frightening, tender horror film about two boys whose community treats their attraction as an illness. Writer-director Adrian Chiarella turns conversion therapy into a supernatural pursuit, with an exorcism intended to suppress queer desire bringing a stalking presence into the boys’ lives. The idea is direct, and Chiarella has the good sense to take the romance as seriously as the danger. A few blunt stretches of dialogue get in the way, but we recommend it for the care it takes with the people being frightened. Joe Bird’s Naim Reid and Stacy Clausen’s Ryan Whelan are easy to care about. Their first-love chemistry makes the premise painful: wanting to be close to someone becomes another thing to fear. Bird and Clausen give the attraction an awkwardness and urgency that make sense for teenagers, while allowing some pleasure in it too. We want them to have time together, which makes the intrusion of the horror properly unwelcome. We were horrified by the exorcism intended to cure the boys of their desire. The promised help consists of treating their attraction as something that must be driven out. Mia Wasikowska’s Arlene Reid adds to the discomfort, and Chiarella makes room to consider the adults’ motives without asking us to excuse them. Wasikowska makes the character’s conflict worth watching even when our sympathies lie firmly with the boys. Tyson Perkins’s cinematography makes the rural setting feel confining, with little sense that the boys can escape the community’s scrutiny. Bethany Ryan’s production design helps make that community feel inhabited rather than assembled solely to menace its younger residents. The ordinary surroundings matter because they keep the intolerance recognisable. Chiarella gets considerable unease out of the prospect of growing up here, before the supernatural pursuer has much work to do. Nick Fenton’s editing keeps the pursuit urgent, and at 88 minutes there is little room for the film to drift away from its two leads. Jed Kurzel’s music helps sustain the unease between scares. The restraint suits a story in which intimacy is already so fraught, although a little more variation in pace might have helped. The tension does slacken in the final stretch, when the central threat has become familiar. The debt to *It Follows* is easy to spot, particularly in the use of a pursuing force that makes desire dangerous. Chiarella gives that device a specific purpose here: the boys are being punished for feelings that the film treats with tenderness. His screenplay is less persuasive when the dialogue spells out what the performances have already made clear. Bird and Clausen have made the cost of the community’s hostility apparent without that help. Allow for the blunt writing, and do not choose it for a few easy jumps before bed. *Fi1m score 80, published 14 September 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond warmly to Leviticus, praising its use of supernatural horror to explore conversion therapy, religious intolerance and the fear attached to queer desire. Praise centres on Adrian Chiarella’s restrained direction and the young leads’ performances, which give the first-love story tenderness without diminishing the dread. The reviews repeatedly find the human cruelty as disturbing as the stalking threat, and several credit the film with making its romance matter as much as its scares. Reservations concern the writing and the mechanics of the horror, with a few sharper objections amid largely positive notices. Some critics find the final act less assured or the message overstretched, while Radio Times admires the premise but finds the relationship drama less convincing and the dialogue clunky. HeyUGuys offers the clearest dissent, arguing that thin characters and inconsistent monster logic undermine an effective premise and an impressive cast. ## Straight answers **Is Leviticus worth watching?** *Leviticus* is worth watching for anyone who wants a horror film that takes its two frightened teenagers as seriously as its monster, and we scored it 80. Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen make the boys' first love convincing, which makes the stalking presence properly unwelcome. Allow for some blunt dialogue and a slackening of tension in the final stretch. **How long is Leviticus, and what is it rated?** *Leviticus* runs 1h 28m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a horror and romance film. **Where can I watch Leviticus in the US?** *Leviticus* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $5.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Leviticus, and is it suitable for children?** *Leviticus* is a 15 certificate in the UK and rated R in the US, and it is not suitable for children. The horror comes from an exorcism meant to cure two teenage boys of their attraction, and from a pursuing presence that makes intimacy dangerous; we found the exorcism itself horrifying. Its scares are sustained unease rather than gore, so the squeamish may cope better than the easily unsettled. **How does Leviticus compare to It Follows?** *Leviticus* borrows its central device from [*It Follows*](https://film.one/film/it-follows), a pursuing force that makes desire dangerous, but gives it a specific purpose: the boys are being punished for feelings the film treats with tenderness. *It Follows* is the more relentlessly frightening of the two, if hazier about its rules. Choose *Leviticus* if you want the romance to matter as much as the pursuit. **What should I watch after Leviticus?** After *Leviticus*, try [*It Follows*](https://film.one/film/it-follows) (2014, Fi1m 84): A relentless pursuit makes desire dangerous, with rules worth arguing about afterwards. Then [*Thelma*](https://film.one/film/thelma-and-louise) (2017, Fi1m 85): Queer desire and religious repression disturb another young person’s attempts at independence; and [*Let the Right One In*](https://film.one/film/let-the-right-one-in) (2008, Fi1m 88): Another young romance makes tenderness possible without making the horror remotely comfortable. ### Reviews we read (15) - **Variety**, Carlos Aguilar (Critics Pick): The critic lauds the film's brilliant queer-specific horror concept and incisive social commentary on conversion therapy, praising the director's assured control and the tender yet tense performances of the leads. It highlights the romantic line and the way it uses horror to defend queer love. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/leviticus-review-horror-conversion-therapy-1236642228/) - **Empire**, Matt Glasby (80/100, inferred): The critic finds Chiarella’s debut horror vivid and meaningful despite its debt to It Follows, praising the textures of rural life, memorable scares, and the subtext about the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ youth in a conservative community. It occasionally stretches its message but remains a heartfelt fright film with something to say. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/leviticus/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Robert Abele (80/100, inferred): The critic praises Chiarella's debut for its sensitive handling of queer horror and conversion therapy themes, highlighting the portrayal of internalized destruction and the strong performances, especially from the leads and Mia Wasikowska. It singles out the film's ability to blend dread with intimacy without easy sentimentality. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-06-19/leviticus-review-adrian-chiarella-stacy-clausen-joe-bird-mia-wasikowska-horror-neon) - **Screen Daily** (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the restrained tone, sharp insight into the psychological impact of prejudicial practices, and striking performances from the young leads that give the unnerving LGBTQ+ horror undeniable power. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/leviticus-review-striking-performances-and-a-balanced-tone-elevate-unnerving-australian-lgbtq-horror/5217890.article) - **The Guardian** (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the debut a smart and surprisingly romantic take on conversion therapy as supernatural horror, with queer desire manifesting as a deadly curse. It singles out the sweet first-love chemistry between the leads and the bold, bittersweet ending for praise, while noting the final act loses some steam. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/24/leviticus-review) - **Time Out**, Elizabeth Weitzman (4/5): The critic finds the film the most unsettling horror debut of the season due to its focus on human cruelties rather than the supernatural, praising the spare direction, gothic anguish and perfectly cast leads for creating one of the year's most touching romances. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/leviticus-review-2026) - **The AV Club**, Monica Castillo (B): Calls it a lean, mean Australian horror debut that mixes religious fanaticism and homophobia with a supernatural stalker like a queer-specific 'It Follows.' Singles out the unrelenting suspense, the embodied terror of intolerance, and the glimmer of hope in the boys' bond despite the horrors. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/leviticus-review) - **Radio Times**, Josh Winning (3/5): The critic calls the supernatural twist on conversion therapy a strong concept with effective queer-rooted terror and haunting imagery of loneliness and desire, but faults the less successful relationship drama and clunky dialogue. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/leviticus-horror-review/) - **IndieWire**, Natalia Winkelman: Frames the film as an entertaining horror debut blending 'Heated Rivalry' with 'It Follows,' where an exorcism meant to 'cure' queerness leads to a stalking presence. Highlights the queer specificity and the way the curse weaponizes desire against the boys. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/leviticus-review-queer-horror-1235174984/) - **Slant Magazine**: Presents it as a creepy horror tale that is also a potent and poignant teen romance, with the curse turning love into a weapon. Notes Chiarella is more effective at eliciting swoons than screams and attempts to understand the mother's conflicted role. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/leviticus-review-mia-wasikowska-adrian-chiarella/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Richard Lawson: The critic describes it as a solemn and frightening acknowledgment of queer trauma and the abuses of conversion therapy, allegorized into supernatural horror. Praises the doleful eeriness, tragic queer love story elements, and the performances that convey ache and desperation amid a toxic community. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/leviticus-review-conversion-therapy-horror-1236480516/) - **/Film**, BJ Colangelo (90/100, inferred): Adrian Chiarella's debut channels personal and communal turmoil into a supernatural horror story of queer desire under religious oppression, delivering one of the best horror films of 2026 with transcendent performances and emotional precision. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/2197107/leviticus-best-horror-movies-2026/) - **The Wrap**, Chase Hutchinson (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a powerful and shattering debut horror that marks an exciting new voice, blending first-love sweetness with the poison of a hateful community. They single out the nuanced, patient portrait of the two lead characters and their passionate bond amid the dread. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/leviticus-review-sundance-queer-horror-movie/) - **HeyUGuys**, Ty Cooper (2/5): The film has an impressive cast and a solid premise as a metaphor for queer isolation, but it feels like a production on autopilot with two-dimensional characters and inconsistent monster logic that weakens the scares. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/leviticus-review/) - **The Playlist**, Gregory Ellwood (A-/B+): Chiarella centers a potentially tragic love story amid conversion therapy horror, crafting a riveting work with strong performances (especially Stacy Clausen) and effective tension in the final act that will haunt viewers. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/leviticus-review-spirit-fueled-conversion-therapy-haunts-a-passionate-gay-love-affair-20260127/) ## Details - **Director:** Adrian Chiarella - **Director:** Adrian Chiarella - **Writer:** Adrian Chiarella - **Cinematography:** Tyson Perkins - **Editor:** Nick Fenton - **Music:** Jed Kurzel - **Production design:** Bethany Ryan - **Costume design:** Zohie Castellano - **Producer:** Samantha Jennings, Kristina Ceyton, Hannah Ngo - **Cast:** Joe Bird as Naim Reid; Stacy Clausen as Ryan Whelan; Mia Wasikowska as Arlene Reid; Nicholas Hope as Deliverance Healer; Tyallah Bullock as Marnie; Ewen Leslie as Rod; Jeremy Blewitt as Hunter; Davida McKenzie as Izzie - **Runtime:** 1h 28m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 19 June 2026 - **Genres:** Horror, Romance - **Budget:** $4 million - **Box office:** $8 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXuK0vlFxII ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $5.99, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $19.99, hd *Checked 2026-09-14.* Also available in: AU, CA, CL, CO, MX, NZ, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *It Follows* (2014), Fi1m 84: A relentless pursuit makes desire dangerous, with rules worth arguing about afterwards — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/it-follows.md) - *Thelma* (2017), Fi1m 85: Queer desire and religious repression disturb another young person’s attempts at independence — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/thelma-and-louise.md) - *Let the Right One In* (2008), Fi1m 88: Another young romance makes tenderness possible without making the horror remotely comfortable — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/let-the-right-one-in.md) - *Carrie* (1976), Fi1m 86: Religious cruelty at home makes an already miserable adolescence considerably more dangerous — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/carrie.md) - *The Innocents* (1961): Repressed desire and adult certainty make a country house an unhappy place --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/leviticus