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Horror has a powerful appeal for devoted fans across demographics, location, gender, and education. Dark, surreal films are often shown late at night at film festivals, and some of the most insightful conversations unfold in those quiet, haunting early-morning hours.
Years of addiction, sampling horror mania from all cultures has led to ultimate discrimination in filmmakers’ horrific imaginations; perpetual competition between Japan and Australia; the Aussies champion the genre: “Wolf Creek”, “Babadook”, “Talk to Me” and now “Leviticus” directed by Adrian Chiarella, intelligent and contemporary issue banned and considered illegal in most religious sects…homosexuality. “Naim” (Joe Bird) and “Ryan” (Stacy Clausen) are teenaged boys, sexually attracted to each other, cleansed of their dubious attraction by fanatic religious ministers; tortured, plagued by clones, lookalikes deigned to kill the loved one. Chiarella’s creativity captures the essence of horror, tinkering with the mind, tricking the eye, compromising, questioning beliefs, daunting powers of a supernatural being. The performances of these actors are stratospheric.
Leviticus, the third book of the Bible, centers on the laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai, including guidelines for moral, ethical, and sexual conduct. The film echoes this severity by portraying the excruciating punishment inflicted on boys whose desires defy societal norms. There is an ugliness in these religious advocacies, and unnatural, curative “cleansing”.
“Do not seek or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself,” Leviticus 19:18.
FOUR STARS!!!!
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