20 Incredible Modern Horror Movies That Came Out Of NOWHERE

Actor Joe Bird certainly brought some attention to Leviticus because of his traumatizing role as Riley in another recent Australian horror knockout: 2022’s Talk to Me. Of course, Mia Wasikowska has become instantly recognizable over the past 20 years as well.

Beyond them, however, none of the other names associated with the movie – including fledgling filmmaker Adrian Chiarella – were big enough to guarantee sizeable viewership. Add to that Leviticus' limited distribution and marketing in the U.S. from international distributor NEON, and it’s easy to understand why it went unnoticed by plenty of people prior to release.

That’s also why it was so gratifying to see how well Chiarella’s initial outing turned out.

Leviticus is centered around two teenage boys who’re targeted by an unseen supernatural force after their evangelical Christian community learns of their same-sex interests. Sure, that might sound like merely filtering It Follows, The VVitch, and Saint Maud through an LGBTQIA+ lens, but there’s enough uniqueness and power to Leviticus to let it stand on its own.

Aside from its distinctive camerawork, moodiness, acting, and dread, its realistic depictions of forbidden love, religious oppression, and identity crises are as heartbreaking and enraging as they are frighteningly genuine.

As such, Leviticus is a hidden gem that’s largely been embraced by the queer community for its boldly necessary social commentaries.