Leviticus review: When queer desire becomes the monster
‘Leviticus’ turns love into a weapon by forcing gay teenagers to evade a killer that wears the face of their crush.
Many parents dread the day their child starts dating. They feel anxious about all the things that could go wrong, not the least of which is disapproving of their kid’s romantic interest. While it seems like something that should be out of their hands, some families can’t help interfering. Everyone has heard stories (or seen reality shows) about the extreme measures people go to keep their son or daughter from dating someone — or anyone. In Leviticus, a small religious community relies on supernatural deterrents to suppress unfavourable sexual desires.
Naim (Joe Bird) isn’t making many friends at his new school, so he’s flattered when another boy in his class invites him to hang out. Ryan (Stacy Clausen) is attractive and a bit of an outcast. It’s not long before their roughhousing takes a more intimate turn. But same-sex relationships are more than discouraged in this town. The local parents have a cure for their “misled” and “confused” teens. The ritual is like an exorcism. But the kids soon discover the ceremony doesn’t rid them of their demons. Instead, it summons an evil that will use their desires against them like some lethal form of conversion therapy.
Punishing teenagers for following their sexual impulses is a classic horror trope. It’s no secret that having sex in a slasher movie is almost always a death sentence. There’s no greater sin in the genre. However, this film specifically targets queer teens. A fact underlined by the lack of concern around the preacher’s daughter’s straight indiscretions.
The film’s parents are unable to accept their children’s same-sex relationships. They’re not only out of touch with the teens, but they’re alarmingly indifferent to the danger they’re exposing them to. Regrettably, single mothers seem especially amenable to this quick fix. They choose to exorcise the kids of their gay lust — and if they can’t resist their carnal urges, they’ll be severely chastened.
Most of the worst violence occurs off screen, narrated by the victim’s screams of terror and agony. After they’ve imagined the worst, audiences are shocked with the bloody aftermath. Yet, writer-director Adrian Chiarella is sure to show just enough of the bizarre assaults to keep viewers on the hook. In one instance, invisible fingers grip a potential victim’s throat, pointing to a tangible but enigmatic menace.
The film weaves some familiar elements throughout the story. Being stalked by something that tries to appear familiar hints at It Follows. The killer is imperceptible to everyone except the victim, making for some Fight Club-esque solo acting. But it lures the teens in by imitating the person they most desire. Then it punishes them for their same-sex attraction by ripping them apart. It becomes impossible for Ryan and Naim to trust what they see as the monster becomes a better mimic the more time they spend together.
To that end, the parents’ attempts to keep the young men apart only creates a stronger bond between them. Scared to death, they must band together to try to defeat the bigoted curse. Taking a page out of Final Destination’s book, they seek the advice of someone else who’s survived the summoning ceremony. Of course, whether they can mount a long-term defence is another matter.
Viewers primarily see the film and its central threat through Naim’s perspective. He watches as this unseen evil seduces his classmates before eventually latching onto him. Consequently, Clausen has the more challenging role, playing lover, victim and fiend at various points of the story. But it’s his and Bird’s integral chemistry that keeps audiences engaged in their battle to love and survive in Chiarella’s feature directorial debut.
Director: Adrian Chiarella
Starring: Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen and Mia Wasikowska
