Queer horror romance Leviticus opens at Bíó Paradís on Thursday 6 August. The film follows two teenage boys growing close in a conservative Christian community before being forced to flee a violent supernatural entity that assumes the appearance of the person they desire most—each other.
Naim and Ryan are two teenage boys living in a conservative Christian community in regional Victoria, Australia. When the local pastor discovers their attraction to one another, the boys are subjected to a ritual intended to suppress or change their sexuality.
Instead, the ritual releases a violent entity that begins terrorising the community. It assumes the appearance of whatever its victim desires most, turning the boys’ love and longing for each other into a weapon against them.
Leviticus combines a tender coming-of-age romance with supernatural horror. The film explores how shame, religious control and fear of one’s own desires can be used against queer people. Writer and director Adrian Chiarella partly developed the story from real-life accounts of conversion practices.
Joe Bird stars as Naim and Stacy Clausen as Ryan. The cast also includes Tyallah Bullock, Mia Wasikowska, Ewen Leslie, Davida McKenzie and Nicholas Hope.
Leviticus is Chiarella’s feature directorial debut and premiered in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026. It was produced by Causeway Films, the Australian production company behind the horror film Talk to Me.
Screenings at Bíó Paradís
- Thursday 6 August at 21:00
- Friday 7 August at 21:00
- Saturday 8 August at 21:00
- Sunday 9 August at 21:00
The film runs for 88 minutes and is presented in English without subtitles. It is rated 16 in Iceland.
Further information and tickets: Leviticus at Bíó Paradís.
