If you thought your teenage dating life was a horror show, Leviticus is here to make your awkward prom photos look like a walk in the park. After causing a massive stir at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival—and walking away with a prestigious distribution deal from NEON—this queer supernatural thriller is officially set to set theaters ablaze this summer.
Forget the slow-burn dread of the Arctic; this is a visceral, “mercilessly upsetting” descent into religious fanaticism in backcountry Australia.
Double the Trouble
Set in an isolated Australian town where the local pastime seems to be “repressive religious zealotry,” the film follows two star-crossed teens, Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen). When their budding romance is discovered, a botched attempt at conversion therapy (masquerading as a ritual) accidentally unleashes a demonic entity.
The twist? This isn’t your average jump-scare monster. The entity takes the form of the person you desire most.
Ryan’s chilling warning to Naim—“If you see anything that looks like me… don’t go near it”—sets the stage for a psychological game of cat and mouse where a kiss can quickly turn into an attempted strangulation.
The Cast & Creative Coven
Writer-director Adrian Chiarella makes his feature debut here, and he didn’t come alone. He’s assembled a powerhouse team to bring this “queer social horror” to life. Joe Bird (Talk to Me) and Stacy Clausen provide the “tender, magnetic” chemistry that keeps the stakes grounded even when the body-snatching begins. Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) makes a haunting return to the screen, adding some heavy-hitting dramatic weight to the ensemble. The cast is rounded out by Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, and Davida McKenzie.
With a score by Jed Kurzel (The Babadook, Alien: Covenant), expect the atmosphere to be thick enough to choke on.
Why the Hype is Real
With a near-perfect 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, the buzz around Leviticus is loud. Critics are praising its refusal to lean on “easy sentimentalism.” It opts instead for an 86-minute runtime that remains “claustrophobic and chilling” until the final frame.
NEON, the distributor behind Parasite and Longlegs, clearly sees something special in Chiarella’s vision. By centering the monster on the boys’ mutual desire, the film turns a survival story into a poignant allegory for how hate can twist the things we love into something unrecognizable.
If you’re looking for a summer blockbuster that’ll haunt your dreams (and your dating life), Leviticus is your answer. Just remember: trust no one—not even the one you love.
