Leviticus(2026)

I was not ready for this. When I heard about this “pray the gay away” queer horror premiering during pride month, I was expecting a light-hearted campy film more in the vein of Bodies Bodies Bodies. Instead this was immensely heavy and profoundly unsettling. I really should’ve known from the Australian accents in the trailer (that I really thought were rural British). Mild spoiler warnings below.

The story uses a clever supernatural metaphor to convey the horrors of conversion therapy. It works very well, perhaps a little too well. Even as a viewer, you experience in real time how quickly intimate moments between Ryan and Nate that were supposed to inspire joy become dreadful turnoffs that exude only unease and horror. As someone who was never subjected to conversion therapy I was surprised at how much rage and sadness this viewing experience brought me. I wonder if all queer share this deep-seated fear on an id level.

It ends on a bittersweet note that does not coddle you in the slightest too. There is no cure for the trauma that was inflicted. Nothing really bad happen to the perpetrators either. All they have to overcome what has happened to them is each other. Cold, and realistic.

This is undoubtedly a good film. Though, I am not sure I recommend watching this during Pride month if you are queer. It is for sure a downer. If you are straight however, go and watch it. It is my hope that you feel at least a little bit guilty, and I encourage you to use that guilt to treat your gay friends nicely this pride weekend. And I am happy to be said gay friend if you have no other outlet.