NEON Acquires Adrian Chiarella’s ‘Leviticus,’ a Queer Horror Breakout From Sundance
NEON is stepping once again into darker, queerer territory. As first reported in an exclusive by Deadline, the distributor has acquired the worldwide rights to Leviticus, the feature-length directorial debut from writer-director Adrian Chiarella. And honestly? This one feels right at home with NEON’s growing slate of bold, boundary-pushing cinema that isn’t afraid to unsettle, provoke, and deeply move us.
Leviticus follows two teenage boys who must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most—each other. It’s a premise that immediately signals something far more intimate than your average horror setup, blending supernatural terror with the very real fears queer youth face when desire itself is treated as something dangerous or forbidden. From the jump, Adrian Chiarella makes it clear that this is horror through a queer lens: emotional, sensual, and deeply political.
The film stars Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen as Naim and Ryan, with a supporting cast that includes Mia Wasikowska, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, David McKenzie, Nicholas Hope, and Zhara Newman. Leviticus is produced by Talk to Me producers Samanta Jennings and Kristina Ceyton under Causeway Films, alongside Hannah Ngo, with Causeway Films and Salmira Productions financing the project. There’s a lot of exciting talent behind this one, and it shows.
Premiering at Sundance on January 23, Leviticus has already made a serious impression. The film is currently sitting at a perfect 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes with 14 reviews and is part of Sundance’s Midnight lineup, with its final screening scheduled for January 30 at the Yarrow Theatre in Park City. Sundance’s own synopsis describes the film as “a haunting and sensitive feature directorial debut,” highlighting its focus on religious fanaticism in an isolated Australian town and the chilling consequences it has for queer youth. It’s horror, yes, but it’s also heartbreakingly human.
What really sets Leviticus apart is how consciously it positions itself within queer horror history. In an interview with IndieWire, Adrian Chiarella spoke about reclaiming the genre for LGBTQ+ audiences. “I always wanted to reclaim this genre,” Chiarella explained. “This is a horror movie, and I always felt like horror films were really shaped by queer writers for queer audiences.” That intention is baked into every layer of the film, from its central love story to its metaphorical curse—one unleashed not by sin, but by love in a world that refuses to allow it.
With NEON now backing Leviticus, Adrian Chiarella’s debut is poised to reach a much wider audience later this year, and we couldn’t be more excited. This is queer horror that understands its roots, honors its community, and isn’t afraid to stare down the monsters—both supernatural and societal—that have haunted queer lives for generations. We’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on what comes next for Leviticus, and for Adrian Chiarella.
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Featured Image: Image via Hollywood Reporter. Image Courtesy of Sundance. Photo by Ben Saunders.
