‘Leviticus’: How the Romantic Horror Movie Was Inspired by a ‘Regression’ of Gay Rights

The romantic horror film 'Leviticus' was inspired by a perceived regression in gay rights, according to writer-director Adrian Chiarella. The movie, which opened in theaters on Friday, follows two teenage boys in Australia who fall in love. Their relationship is threatened by demonic forces that emerge after one of them undergoes a dark, religious conversion therapy. Chiarella stated that the film's premise stems from a place of anxiety regarding societal shifts and the potential for historical setbacks in LGBTQ+ rights. The narrative explores themes of forbidden love, religious extremism, and the supernatural, drawing parallels between internal struggles and external persecution. The film's setting in Australia provides a specific cultural context for these themes. 'Leviticus' aims to blend elements of romance and horror to create a thought-provoking commentary on social progress and the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. The director's personal anxieties about the erosion of rights fueled the creative process for this feature-length project.