'Leviticus' Review: Where Supernatural Horror Meets Human Cruelty
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Shauna Bushe - September 3, 2026
"Love is love." It is a beautifully simple truth, yet Leviticus turns this phrase into a devastating battle cry against the cruel realities of intolerance.
What is Leviticus about?
Leviticus follows the tragic journey of Naim and Ryan, who commit no crime other than falling in love. Instead of finding safety and acceptance within their own community, they are subjected to an inhumane, desperate ritual by their own flesh and blood in a misguided, futile attempt to "cure" them. But the true horror begins when a terrifying, relentless entity is unleashed. As the entity begins to hunt the two teenage boys down, the narrative transforms into a miserable test of love, truth and intensifies with every encounter.
At its core, the film boldly confronts a deeply taboo and unnecessarily controversial topic: the vilification of same-sex relationships. The genius of Leviticus lies in how it manifests the psychological weight of hate into a physical monster. The characters don't just face abstract prejudice; they are literally being hunted, creating a profound sense of tragedy. You feel their absolute helplessness as they run from a force that cannot be stopped and takes on the form of the one they most desire. The actors ground this horror with deeply moving performances, perfectly capturing the painful contrast between the purity of their bond and the ignorance of the world around them.
An overwhelming sense of dread hangs over Leviticus from beginning to end. Even before the entity reveals itself, the atmosphere is suffocating, as though the walls themselves are closing in. Once the haunting begins, that tension only escalates, transforming grief and fear into something almost unbearable. The creature itself is frightening, but the knowledge that it exists because two people dared to love one another is what gives the horror its lasting impact. The monster is terrifying, yet the prejudice behind its creation is infinitely more disturbing.
The authenticity between Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen) becomes the emotional backbone of the film, making every hardship they endure infinitely more heart-breaking. Their chemistry is effortless, capturing the uncertainty of first love while also conveying the devastating reality of having to hide it from the people who are supposed to love them unconditionally.
What makes their story so devastating is that they’re not only abandoned by their wider community but also by the very people meant to protect them. Their parents view love as something to be corrected rather than celebrated, replacing compassion with condemnation under the guise of faith. Every room they enter feels hostile, every conversation feels loaded with judgement, and every fleeting moment they share together is a risk. Leviticus reminds us that the greatest wounds are rarely inflicted by monsters, but by families and communities who choose rejection over acceptance.
Overall, Leviticus is a beautiful yet deeply unsettling film that targets a devastating societal reality. It successfully exposes the bleak, hatred-soaked foundations of institutional injustice while fiercely advocating for the simple acceptance these characters, and people in the real world, so rightfully deserve.
'Leviticus' released in cinemas on September 2, 2026.
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