The Sundance Film Festival is known for showcasing many major horror films in the past, such as The Blair Witch Project, American Psycho, Ari Aster's Hereditary, and Jordan Peele's Get Out. In 2026, another remarkable production that has received critical acclaim is set to hit theaters — Leviticus. This Australian LGBTQ+ coming-of-age horror romance stands out with its emotional relationship at its core and its unique monster. It's exciting that the film will be featured in Collider's Special Summer Preview before its release, along with the sharing of a new trailer.

Leviticus is directed by Stacy Clausen, who we previously saw in Danny and Michael Philippou's Talk to Me and most recently in the film Thrash starring Phoebe Dynevor. Two young men, Naim and Ryan, feel a strong attraction to each other as they navigate their sexual identities while facing religious fanaticism in their isolated Australian town. This situation forces them to suppress their feelings due to the pressures from their communities. However, their lives take a darker turn when they are disturbed by a malevolent supernatural entity that takes on the appearance of the person they desire most.

The film's writer and director, Adrian Chiarella, brought this project to life to show that fears can be both frightening and, unfortunately, real. In an interview with Collider at Sundance, he mentioned that part of his story was influenced by terrifying practices such as conversion therapy and exorcism aimed at 'curing' the feelings of LGBTQ+ individuals. As a result, a film emerged that addresses the continuity of queer love in the face of desire and hatred, being both chilling and sensory. Chiarella also emphasized the need to create a center that reflects and amplifies these themes.