I love that horror is having its day at the box office this summer. I’m encouraged that a film like LEVITICUS, with a clear underlying message, got made. I’m inspired that the film’s message doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a genuinely scary horror movie.
Several horror films use atmospheric settings to build tension. However, few come close to capturing how beautifully the Australian countryside plays a character all its own. The closest film to the dread felt in LEVITICUS is the classic indie horror IT FOLLOWS. Both also share a sexual repression element that’s instantly relatable, as characters have to hide who they truly are to survive.
All of this works thanks to Stacy Clausen and Joe Bird’s romantic leads. The push-and-pull dynamic between them is further strained by the horror component, which I’m doing my best not to spoil. What I will say is that how director Adrian Chiarella incorporates horror into their relationship makes this one of the scariest films of the year. If I were to rank the latest batch of horror, it would be:
OBSESSION > LEVITICUS > HOKUM > BACKROOMS
OBSESSION holds the number one position because LEVITICUS has all this pent-up emotion and doesn’t fully stick the landing. I debated dropping the score down a notch, yet it has stuck with me long after the credits rolled, and I can forgive a mediocre ending thanks to the horrifying journey that came before it.
Final Thought: LEVITICUS proves horror can scare you and mean something at the same time. The ending stumbles, but the dread Chiarella builds with Clausen, and Bird lingers far longer than the missed landing. See it on the big screen, in the dark, with someone you’ll want to hold onto.
It’s available now in theaters.
