LEVITICUS

Leviticus (2026)

Written & Directed by: Adrian Chiarella

It’s sad to live in a place surrounded by narrow-minded and apathetic people. What makes it even more painful is when the mistreatment comes from your own parents and neighbors.

Homophobia is suffocating. It’s getting hard to breathe. Every part of your body aches, inside and out. The pain becomes insufferable. Some may see this pain as an exaggeration. But the real horror lies in the fact that these experiences are not fictional.

Nobody gets to belittle the terror. It’s true when a parent sees their child as a plaything. It’s true when religion uses extreme measures to bend you to your knees.

Sometimes, it’s hard to stand up when religion stands in the way, but this film finds the courage to challenge it anyway. Named after the third book of the Bible, 𝘓𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 shows the worship and sacrifices — and the horror that comes with it.

Though its metaphors are clear, the pacing can be dragging at times. Some scenes tend to repeat themselves, even though they’ve already been established. The story could have been condensed into a short film while still effectively delivering its message.

Confrontations become missed opportunities to further explore the film’s themes. Conversations lack dimensions. Its approach to the issues feels one-sided. Neither topic is examined thoroughly.

Nonetheless, the horror rooted in queer experience is strong and consistent. The attraction between the leads is palpable. There’s both comfort and fear in being discreet when the world has the power to suppress who you are.

This is not some kind of possession that needs healing. The obsession over religion in justifying hateful actions needs to stop.

Rather than reinforcing obsession, this film offers representation that matters. It has a meaningful purpose, transforming something suffocating into something liberating.

𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐒

Cast: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Mia Wasikowska, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, Davida McKenzie, Nicholas Hope, Zamira Newman

Screenplay by: Adrian Chiarella

Presented by: Causeway Films, Salmira Productions

Release Date: July 1, 2026 exclusively in SM cinemas nationwide

A Movie Review by: Goldwin Reviews