Australian horror film “Leviticus” (2026) spotlights queer religious trauma

Australian director Adrian Chiarella’s horror film Leviticus (2026) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has drawn critical attention for its portrayal of queer experiences within a devout Christian community. The story follows teenage Naim, who moves with his mother Arlene to a rural Australian town, befriends classmate Ryan, and discovers that the pastor’s son Hunter is in a secret relationship with Ryan. When Naim outs the couple, a “deliverance healer” conducts a conversion‑therapy‑style exorcism that leads to violent supernatural consequences, including the death of Hunter. Critics describe the film as a psychological horror that confronts the trauma of conversion therapy and the erasure of queer bodies.

The film’s release coincided with LGBTQ+ Catholic outreach events in Washington, DC, underscoring its cultural relevance. Reviewers have praised its unsettling atmosphere and thematic depth, calling it a hidden horror standout of the year.