Australian horror film “Leviticus” draws international attention after festival and press coverage

Writer-director Adrian Chiarella’s new Australian horror film, “Leviticus,” is drawing international attention after coverage in major arts outlets, with critics and audiences pointing to its blend of jump-scare filmmaking and a tender queer romance. The film, which Chiarella is credited as writing and directing, has been described as a project that plays against the notion of religiously framed “purging” narratives, using horror tropes to redirect viewers toward a different emotional and moral center.

The Guardian’s reporting characterizes “Leviticus” as centering on a pair of queer characters while also drawing on the language of the biblical book Leviticus, pairing religious imagery with unsettling scenes. According to the same coverage, the film uses fear as a dramatic tool but undercuts an established genre expectation, steering away from stories that treat demonology as justification for hostility toward LGBTQ people.

Chiarella, who is described as a gay man, has said he is troubled by reports of religious leaders in multiple countries who portray LGBTQ people as the targets of “homosexual demons” and promote attempts to “purge” or remove them. In the Guardian account, Chiarella frames the background research for the film as part of a longer reaction to how public religious discourse can escalate into coercion, stigma, and efforts to force people to change their identities or relationships.

The coverage also portrays “Leviticus” as an example of a broader cultural shift in horror filmmaking, in which long-standing scripts about morality and punishment are reworked through character-focused storytelling. Instead of presenting queer existence as something to be eliminated or corrected, the film is described as delivering a romance that remains central, even as it employs the techniques associated with horror, including moments intended to startle viewers.

Because public information about production credits, release dates, and distribution platforms is still developing, details such as the film’s premiere venue, wider theatrical or streaming rollout, and full cast list are not fully established in the reporting provided. Viewers who want to track access to the film may need to monitor additional announcements tied to festival calendars and distributors following the initial press burst.

For audiences and families considering whether to view the movie, the Guardian account suggests it combines a horror presentation with LGBTQ-themed content. That combination may affect how parents and guardians evaluate age appropriateness, particularly if “jump scare” elements are prominent, even as the film’s relationship story is described in comparatively tender terms.