Leviticus (2026)
Directed by: Adrian Chiarella
Premise: Gay teenagers in an evangelical church are put through a ritual intended to change their sexual orientation. The teens are haunted by a violent specter that looks like their partner.
What Works: Leviticus is about the way relationships are poisoned by homophobia and the way self-hatred is externalized. Teenagers Naim and Ryan (Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen) are in a triangular relationship with Hunter (Jeremy Blewitt). The conflict of the story kicks off when Naim outs Ryan and Hunter to their families out of jealousy. The families subject Ryan and Hunter and later Naim to a ritual that is intended to purge them of their homosexuality. Instead, the teenagers are violently attacked by a specter that looks like their partner. While not very subtle, the metaphor is an effective visualization of self-hatred. The teens cannot tell the difference between the specter and their partner, enhancing the thematic point but also the tension in the story. There are a few poignant dramatic moments among the parents as they deal with the fallout of the curse they have unleashed on their sons.
What Doesn’t: Leviticus is awfully similar to 2014’s It Follows, playing almost as a gay remake of that film, but Leviticus pales in comparison. Leviticus only runs eighty-eight minutes. It’s shorn down to a fault. Some aspects of the story don’t make sense because there isn’t enough exposition. At certain points it is unclear what has happened and the audience has to piece the events together. The supernatural element is taken for granted and isn’t really explored. The film is not particularly scary in part because of the choppy pacing and the lack of atmosphere. The characterization suffers because there isn’t enough breathing room. The relationship between Naim and Ryan is complicated and calls for more depth. Leviticus’ theme of corruption and control spills over into Naim’s relationship with his mother and the families in their church. This idea is acknowledged but the filmmakers don’t do much with it.
Disc extras: Commentary track, interviews, featurette, and a trailer.
Bottom Line: Leviticus has a provocative conceit without a worthy story. The filmmakers are stuck on the initial idea and don’t develop it into something dramatically or thematically cohesive.
Episode: #1122 (October 25, 2026)