Written and directed by Australian filmmaker Adrian Chiarella, Leviticus is a new release that blends sexuality with terror. Thanks to its emotional approach, this movie is a solid character-first horror story that stumbles in some areas but succeeds where it matters.

Two gay teens find themselves pursued by an entity taking the shape of the person they desire the most. The cast is led by Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen. They are supported by Mia Wasikowska, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie and Nicholas Hope.

Leviticus does a good job depicting a simple horror story through the lens of gay adolescents struggling with their identity. It is in this approach that the movie thrives, delivering a heartfelt (and often horrific) coming-of-age tale. The film is at its best when it uses bigotry as a vessel for villainy.

The above is enough to ensure the movie succeeds. In terms of the story’s approach to horror, these sequences are fairly frightening but also moving due to the way the film utilises the characters’ internal turmoil. However, one can’t help but see the similarities in this picture’s method of tension with other releases such as It Follows and Smile, both of which are far more inventive horror films that utilise more elaborate filmmaking techniques.

Leviticus is a solid film that thrives in the way it builds terror through deep character moments. While it may not touch the quality of other films in the same niche, it ticks enough boxes to be a satisfying horror feature.