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Australian Queer Horror Leviticus Premieres at Sundance, Gains International Attention
On 23 January, the 2026 Sundance Film Festival opened its Midnight lineup with the world premiere of Leviticus, an unsettling debut from Australian writer‑director Adrian Chiarella. The film follows two teenage boys in a rural town who discover a forbidden attraction that spirals into terror when a local preacher summons a demonic force.
Chiarella, a graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, had already earned an AWGIE award in 2025 for an episode of SBS’s Erotic Stories. Prior to Leviticus, he worked on shorts such as Dwarf Planet and served as an editor for Baz Luhrmann. In his first feature, he pairs Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen in a tense coming‑of‑age story that quickly descends into supernatural horror. Jeremy Blewitt and Mia Wasikowska—who also acts as executive producer—provide the supporting cast.
The narrative begins with a tender exploration of queer desire. Two boys secretly share kisses and gropes, only to have their intimacy exposed. A shadowy church leader performs a ritual meant to “cleanse” them of their “sinful urges.” The ceremony backfires, releasing a demonic entity that stalks the boys daily, manifesting as the other boy’s deepest longing. The film shifts from a contemporary love story to a chilling examination of conversion practices and the violence they inflict.
Critics have praised the film’s blend of psychological dread and visceral terror. A review in Flix at 48 highlighted the “direct, honest performances” of the leads, calling them “simple, fragile, and realistic.” The piece also noted the film’s concise 1 hour 28 minute runtime and its “deceptively bleak colors” that mirror the protagonists’ internal landscapes.
Thematically, Leviticus echoes the experiences of queer youth confronting oppressive forces. The review compared it to Boy Erased (2018) and It Follows (2014), observing that “any expression of love could end up harming you” and that “shame follows you like a ghost.” Setting the story in rural Australia underscores that conversion therapy and related abuses are global, not confined to Western or Christian contexts.
After its Sundance debut, Neon secured international distribution rights. The film opened theatrically in Australia on 18 June to positive reviews that praised its “unsettling” atmosphere and “bold exploration of queer survival.” Neon plans a U.S. and European streaming release later in 2026.
Leviticus arrives amid a wave of darker, socially conscious horror from younger filmmakers. Other 2026 releases—Backrooms, Hokum, Obsession, Exit Eight, and The Drama—blend supernatural elements with contemporary anxieties about isolation and technology.
Industry observers view Leviticus as a significant entry in the queer horror subgenre. Its combination of coming‑of‑age drama and supernatural threat offers a fresh narrative structure, while its Australian production adds geographic diversity to the genre.
Currently, the film is available in Australian cinemas and is slated for a wider U.S. theatrical run in September 2026. Neon’s strategy will likely include a digital release on major streaming services within the next year. The strong festival reception and critical acclaim position Leviticus as a notable contender for the upcoming awards season, though no nominations have been announced yet.
In sum, Leviticus has carved out a space as a compelling, socially relevant horror that tackles queer identity and conversion trauma through a supernatural lens. With a successful festival debut, positive critical response, and an international distribution deal, the film stands poised to influence both the horror genre and conversations about LGBTQ+ representation in cinema.
Chiarella, a graduate of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, had already earned an AWGIE award in 2025 for an episode of SBS’s Erotic Stories. Prior to Leviticus, he worked on shorts such as Dwarf Planet and served as an editor for Baz Luhrmann. In his first feature, he pairs Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen in a tense coming‑of‑age story that quickly descends into supernatural horror. Jeremy Blewitt and Mia Wasikowska—who also acts as executive producer—provide the supporting cast.
The narrative begins with a tender exploration of queer desire. Two boys secretly share kisses and gropes, only to have their intimacy exposed. A shadowy church leader performs a ritual meant to “cleanse” them of their “sinful urges.” The ceremony backfires, releasing a demonic entity that stalks the boys daily, manifesting as the other boy’s deepest longing. The film shifts from a contemporary love story to a chilling examination of conversion practices and the violence they inflict.
Critics have praised the film’s blend of psychological dread and visceral terror. A review in Flix at 48 highlighted the “direct, honest performances” of the leads, calling them “simple, fragile, and realistic.” The piece also noted the film’s concise 1 hour 28 minute runtime and its “deceptively bleak colors” that mirror the protagonists’ internal landscapes.
Thematically, Leviticus echoes the experiences of queer youth confronting oppressive forces. The review compared it to Boy Erased (2018) and It Follows (2014), observing that “any expression of love could end up harming you” and that “shame follows you like a ghost.” Setting the story in rural Australia underscores that conversion therapy and related abuses are global, not confined to Western or Christian contexts.
After its Sundance debut, Neon secured international distribution rights. The film opened theatrically in Australia on 18 June to positive reviews that praised its “unsettling” atmosphere and “bold exploration of queer survival.” Neon plans a U.S. and European streaming release later in 2026.
Leviticus arrives amid a wave of darker, socially conscious horror from younger filmmakers. Other 2026 releases—Backrooms, Hokum, Obsession, Exit Eight, and The Drama—blend supernatural elements with contemporary anxieties about isolation and technology.
Industry observers view Leviticus as a significant entry in the queer horror subgenre. Its combination of coming‑of‑age drama and supernatural threat offers a fresh narrative structure, while its Australian production adds geographic diversity to the genre.
Currently, the film is available in Australian cinemas and is slated for a wider U.S. theatrical run in September 2026. Neon’s strategy will likely include a digital release on major streaming services within the next year. The strong festival reception and critical acclaim position Leviticus as a notable contender for the upcoming awards season, though no nominations have been announced yet.
In sum, Leviticus has carved out a space as a compelling, socially relevant horror that tackles queer identity and conversion trauma through a supernatural lens. With a successful festival debut, positive critical response, and an international distribution deal, the film stands poised to influence both the horror genre and conversations about LGBTQ+ representation in cinema.
