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Leviticus Uses Queer Horror to Confront Religious Homophobia

The Sundance debut now in theaters interprets a predatory force as a metaphor for rising anti‑LGBTQ bigotry and closes on an intentionally ambiguous note that emphasizes hope.

Overview

  • Leviticus, Adrian Chiarella’s debut feature, premiered at Sundance and opened in U.S. theaters during Pride Month after a reported acquisition by Neon.
  • Chiarella says he made the film as a personal response to a recent rise in anti‑LGBTQ hostility, using horror tradition to make that social threat feel literal and immediate.
  • The story centers on two young men stalked by a supernatural entity that appears through desire and only attacks when victims are alone, forcing strategies of separation and mutual care.
  • Production design and cinematography use mirrors, windows and bleak industrial landscapes to stress mistrust, perception and the film’s framing as a modern biblical parable.
  • Early reviews praise the scares and performances, industry conversation is turning to awards season, and post‑theatrical streaming plans have not yet been announced.