Our take
Leviticus is an Australian supernatural horror romance about two teenage boys tormented by an entity that shapeshifts into the person they desire most. It is rated R for bloody violent content, language, some sexual content, and teen drug use. Expect severed-head horror, ear mutilation, exorcism-style rituals, anti-LGBTQ religious pressure, bullying, and a brief sexual scene between the leads. Critically acclaimed but deeply upsetting; for mature older teens and adults only
Uplifting themes
Compassion, perseverance, and refusing to hide identity emerge amid horror Teen leads show courage though choices are shaped by trauma
Story (may spoil tone)
Two teenage boys must escape a violent entity that takes the form of the person they desire most: each other.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence Monster attacks, ritual violence, peer assault, and lethal supernatural…
Monster attacks, ritual violence, peer assault, and lethal supernatural set pieces
Language Strong language included in the official R-rating rationale
Strong language included in the official R-rating rationale
Sex / nudity Teen romantic and sexual contact including a handjob scene in plot summ…
Teen romantic and sexual contact including a handjob scene in plot summaries
Drugs / alcohol Teen drug use cited in the R certification
Teen drug use cited in the R certification
Frightening Sustained supernatural dread, body horror, and conversion-therapy terror
Sustained supernatural dread, body horror, and conversion-therapy terror
Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title
No self-harm found in this title
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Child peril / abuse Teen leads endure ritual abuse, bullying, and graphic supernatural harm
Teen leads endure ritual abuse, bullying, and graphic supernatural harm
Bullying / discrimination Anti-gay religious pressure, outing, and peer violence drive the horror…
Anti-gay religious pressure, outing, and peer violence drive the horror allegory
Gore / death / weapons Severed head, ear mutilation, stabbing, and bloody monster kills
Severed head, ear mutilation, stabbing, and bloody monster kills
Dangerous behaviour Confronting the entity alone is plot-critical but fantastical
Confronting the entity alone is plot-critical but fantastical
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health Shame, fear, and repression in a hostile community weigh on both leads
Shame, fear, and repression in a hostile community weigh on both leads
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement Parental death, friend loss, and betrayal fuel the emotional arc
Parental death, friend loss, and betrayal fuel the emotional arc
Talk after watching
- The monster metaphor ties desire to fear and shame. How can horror express real-world prejudice?
- Naim and Ryan face a town that punishes who they love. What support do LGBTQ teens need?