What if the object of your desire was also the thing that’s trying to kill you? Not slowly irritating you to death for leaving the toilet seat up again. We mean actively trying to strangle you.
That’s the intriguing premise behind the an auspicious feature film debut for writer-director Adrian Chiarella that’s both deeply scary and a queer revolt.
Named for the book of the Old Testament often used to justify homophobia, the movie explores the burgeoning relationship between two young men that is shattered when so-called 鈥渃onversion therapy鈥� 鈥� a scientifically discredited practice 鈥� unleashes a demon that stalks them. Some have called the movie 鈥淚t Follows鈥� meets but that’s a disservice to Chiarella’s ambition.
The film centers on Naim (Joe Bird, the breakout star of )and Ryan (newcomer Stacy Clausen), who we watch fitfully, awkwardly fall for each other, slowly exploring their sexuality and stutter-stepping into their true selves. Wrestling turns to flirtation, which becomes longing and tenderness.
That doesn’t go over well in the small Australian town where the movie is set, a blue-collar community with belching smoke stacks, low-slung houses, barking dogs and a Christian pastor 鈥� with a 鈥渄eliverance healer鈥� 鈥� who prefers his flock much more heterosexual.
Chiarella is leaning not only into the notion that sexual desire makes you vulnerable, but also the harm that repressing who you are can do. In this case, the demon takes the form of your crush. It has weaponized lust.
鈥淵ou shouldn鈥檛 be near me. I shouldn鈥檛 be near you, either,鈥� one of the would-be lovers says to the other.
Chiarella starts his movie with a nod to Alfred Hitchcock 鈥� a shower scene worthy of 鈥淧sycho鈥� 鈥� and nods to others in the genre, like 鈥淎 Nightmare on Elm Street.鈥� He can be a bit clunky with his images 鈥� a frog being eaten by a snake 鈥� but his pacing is flawless and his ramping up of terror is sure. 鈥淟eviticus鈥� might be an indie film, but it’s got the blessing of who gave the filmmakers the right to use his song 鈥淪elf Control.鈥�
The monsters 鈥� in addition to the nasty one only the boys can see, of course 鈥� are the adults: the parents and caregivers and friends who turn on vulnerable, scared young men and make them scared of each other. Mom might kindly take some disliked olives off her son’s pizza, but she won’t accept him kissing another boy.
Chiarella’s pro-queer filmmaking extends to his ability to perfectly capture the fumbling ecstasy of new love, the fierce longing of stolen kisses and how scary it is to submit to a new partner. Kudos to Bird and Clausen for capturing that universal feeling.
With his film, Chiarella forms making horror brilliant in summer 2026, alongside and The future of movies is in good hands.
鈥淟eviticus,鈥� a Neon release that’s in theaters Friday, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for 鈥渂loody violent content, language, some sexual content and teen drug use.鈥� Running time: 88 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.
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