Leviticus is prime horror material as it merges its phenomenon with reality, delivering a frightening story with a love story at its center worth cheering on.
‘Leviticus brews supernatural horror as a vehicle for the real danger when your sexuality exists outside the heteronormative default. It could easily be a documentary about conversion therapy and how LGBTQIA teens and kids struggle to navigate the world and the status quo maintained at the cost of their lives. Aside from the parallels and admonishment of adults who do not support the kids around them, it’s also a surprisingly good time. While not nightmarish material, it grips your attention. Leviticus is prime horror material as it merges its phenomenon with reality, delivering a frightening story with a love story at its center worth cheering on.
Adrian Chiarella pens the screenplay as well as makes his feature directorial debut with this Australian horror flick, starring two teenaged boys, Naim, played by Joe Bird (Talk to Me, Wolfram), and Ryan, played by Stacy Clausen (Thrash, True Spirit), who wind up fighting for survival as an unknown entity stalks them, resembling the person they want most, each other. In a similar vein to Talk to Me, Leviticus leans into abrupt shocks, with loud sound effects to amplify its tension. However, they do not feel ham-fisted, even when they feel overdone.
Leviticus Starts Strong and Builds From There
The movie grabs you through the opening as we see a young lady enjoying herself with someone offscreen at the showers in the pool area. Using the tiled wall to divide what we see and what she sees, it starts sexy and goes to horrifying fast. This sets the tone and dynamics where passion precedes panic. However, given the unknown entity pursuing them, panic is understandable, as is abject terror. Leviticus merges them in a story that is beyond mere sex and danger.
Retire Shocking Sounds
Leviticus packs a message and dread with every scene, building an is-he-or-isn’t-he with each encounter. However, too many films think loud sounds equal terror—the same way that too many films equate shocking with horror. This film is good enough that it does not need it. Scenes would be equally as chilling without the loud sound effects that create jump scares. A loud sudden noise would make most people jump even outside a horror context. Plus, the sound effects are loud and the dialogue in films, including Leviticus, is often too low. Conversation matters more than ratcheted-up sounds to inspire cheap jumps.
The Two Leads Keep You Hooked With the Mystery
Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen have chemistry and genuine affection onscreen. Because of that, viewers can connect further with their relationship and the danger. Mia Wasikowska (Stoker, Crimson Peak), who plays Arlene, the mother of Joe Bird’s character, shows how even a parent who displays warmth and affection to their child. The danger she intentionally put her child in is disturbing. While it’s supernatural in the film, there is also the genuine danger they face with homophobic parents. They either must hide, be subjected to abuse, or run away to face unknown peril. Leviticus ties this in with the religious aspect, and the performances amplify it all.
Leviticus leaves the mystery unanswered and unexplored, despite the tease of the two meeting the man in religious garb who did that to both of them. It also does not explore the religious aspect, or who the creepy preacher man is, and what he is calling forth. But there is more than enough that the movie nails. The tension is razor-sharp, especially in scenes where the two teens are together.
That question of whether the one opposite them is real or some evil force hellbent on destroying them builds dread. In that vein, it’s very similar to It Follows. Leviticus may not answer every question, but the journey does not disappoint as the dread runs up your spine as the danger of homophobic families meet a frightening being.
