A One Mann’s Movies review of “Leviticus”. (2026, 3.5*, 15).
The title comes from Leviticus 18:22 which states “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination”. For Leviticus starts as an LGBTQ drama that only heads into supernatural horror territory after the first half hour.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen) are schoolboys in a non-descript Australian industrial town. While alone in an abandoned mill, they explore their sexuality, it being both of their “first times”. For Ryan it quickly becomes a ‘second time’ with Hunter (Jeremy Blewitt). Hurt and confused, Naim dobs the pair in to their parents. Unfortunately their community is highly religious, with homosexuality a sin that needs stamping out. A ‘Deliverance Healer’ (Nicholas Hope) is brought in to ‘drive out the gayness’ from Ryan and Hunter. But there are side effects.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC website: “Strong violence, injury detail, horror, sex, very strong language.”)
Talent:
Starring: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Mia Wasikowska, Jeremy Blewitt, Davida McKenzie, Shannon Berry, Tyallah Bullock, Nicholas Hope.
Directed by: Adrian Chiarella.
Written by: Adrian Chiarella.
Running Time: 1h 28m.
Review:
Positives:
- OK, so the story is very similar to many ‘possession’ types of movie and with the sexual connotations it perhaps owes a lot to It Follows. But this is a horror delivered in some style and the LGBTQ aspect of the plot sets it apart as a different dramatic animal.
- The script doesn’t hurry itself along. The first 30 minutes of the film is pure drama with only the pre-title hot-girl-in-a-shower sequence (which only makes sense later in the film) hinting at the horror angle. This fully builds up the picture of the relationships in a ‘show don’t tell’ manner that I really loved.
- We are more into psychological horror for the most part here. There is, in fact, only one real jump scare in the whole film. And that’s a doozie, because you don’t see it coming. (I’d much rather have one good one rather than dozens of lame “BLAH’s” (with a screech of violins).)
- The setting of the film is nicely bleak, with the industrial backdrop (I believe these scenes were filmed on the outskirts of Melbourne) setting a depressing and ominous tone.
- There are strong performances from the two leads, Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen. Joe Bird, who was so good in both The Pope’s Exorcist and Talk to Me, is maturing into a fine young actor with significant talent. He has SUCH an interesting face: something about the shape of the eyes. I only know Stacy Clauson from the terrible (but so bad it’s good) Thrash, but this film sets a much better bar for his talents. Probably the biggest name in the cast is Mia Wasikowska playing Arlene, Naim’s mum, who gives a strong performance too. A special shout out also to Shannon Berry who plays the stressed out Jessica, in a hospital for her own good. Her meltdown scene – “You can’t make it stop… nothing can make it stop” – was really well done.
Negatives:
- Fans of Horror (with a capital H) might find it a bit slow. This more builds its tension through atmosphere rather than shocks and gore.
- Prudes might find some of the sex quite strong, particularly a ‘Titanic-hand-on-the-glass’ moment on a bus.
- I wasn’t completely bought in to the motivations of the mum, Arlene. She just comes over as an uncaring, heartless bitch for most of the running time. I wasn’t clear if she really knew the full story and was hiding it or she was in the dark.
Summary Thoughts:
I went into this expecting a cookie-cutter-horror film but actually got something different: far more of a Talk To Me than a Baghead. This is the directorial debut for Adrian Chiarella and a really creditable job. A tight little 88 minute, well-crafted horror. I went in expecting very little and came out impressed.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer for the film is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXuK0vlFxII.
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