More Horror News: 'Leviticus' Brings a Haunting Horror Romance
- More Horror
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
MoreHorrorMovies.com - NEON is bringing one of the year’s most talked-about genre discoveries home. Leviticus, the feature directorial debut from Adrian Chiarella, will arrive on digital platforms to rent or own on July 28, 2026, followed by a Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Combo and DVD release on September 8, 2026.
The announcement came Friday, July 24, from New York, with NEON positioning the film’s home entertainment release as a major moment for horror fans who missed its festival run, or who want to revisit its unsettling blend of dread, desire, and coming-of-age romance.
The film premiered in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival, a section known for launching bold genre titles and boundary-pushing midnight movies. After that premiere, Leviticus gained attention as a breakout horror romance, with critics describing it as “a bone-chilling horror romance” and “staggeringly beautiful.”
The release dates are now set
The home release begins with digital availability, giving viewers the first chance to watch Leviticus outside of theaters and festival screenings. The physical editions will follow several weeks later for collectors and fans who want bonus features on disc.
Release format | Date | Availability |
Digital rental and purchase | July 28, 2026 | Digital platforms |
Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Combo | September 8, 2026 | Physical release |
DVD | September 8, 2026 | Physical release |
The July digital release is the fastest route for audiences ready to experience the story at home. The September disc release is aimed at viewers who want the film with added material, including commentary, interviews, and behind-the-scenes access.
A coming-of-age story with a terrifying romantic hook
At the center of Leviticus are two teenage boys, played by Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen, who are forced to flee a violent supernatural entity. The threat takes the form of the person they desire most, which, for each of them, means the other.
That premise gives the film its sharp emotional pull. The danger is not distant or anonymous. It wears the face of longing. The result is a horror story built around intimacy, fear, and self-discovery, where attraction becomes both a refuge and a threat.
Joe Bird, known for Talk to Me, joins Stacy Clausen in what NEON describes as standout performances. Their characters’ flight from the entity shapes the film’s horror, but the relationship between them gives the story its core. The monster’s form turns their feelings into something visible, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.
That is also what separates Leviticus from a more familiar chase film. The fear does not come only from being hunted. It comes from what the pursuit reveals.
Adrian Chiarella makes his feature debut
Leviticus marks the feature directorial debut of Adrian Chiarella, who also takes part in the home release through a feature commentary and interview material.
A debut feature gaining attention out of Sundance’s Midnight section can carry a particular kind of pressure. Genre audiences often look to that program for films with strong visual identity, fresh concepts, and enough emotional weight to last beyond the initial shock. Based on NEON’s announcement, Leviticus arrives with that kind of profile.
The film’s description points to a director interested in more than fright mechanics. The story uses the language of horror to explore adolescence, queer desire, vulnerability, and the fear of being seen. That mix has become a rich space for modern genre filmmaking, where monsters often reveal what characters are struggling to say out loud.
Sundance helped build the buzz
The Sundance Midnight premiere gave Leviticus an early platform with audiences primed for strange, intense, and emotionally charged films. The section has long been a home for horror, thrillers, and genre hybrids that do not fit neatly into a single category.
For Leviticus, that setting appears to have helped define the film as both a horror title and a romance. NEON’s release frames it as a “haunting coming-of-age horror romance,” a label that suggests viewers should expect emotion and atmosphere alongside fear.
The critical response highlighted in the announcement also points in that direction. Calling the film “bone-chilling” places it firmly in horror territory. Calling it “staggeringly beautiful” suggests the film’s impact may come as much from mood, performance, and imagery as from scares.
The physical release includes bonus features
The September 8 disc editions will include a set of extras designed for viewers who want more context on the making of the film.
The home entertainment release includes:
Feature commentary with Adrian Chiarella
A full-length track from the director, offering insight into the film’s choices, themes, and production.
Interviews with Adrian Chiarella, Stacy Clausen, and Joe Bird
Conversations with the director and lead actors about the story, performances, and process.
Exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette
A closer look at how the film came together.
Official trailer
The film’s trailer included as part of the release package.
For a movie built on atmosphere and performance, the commentary and interviews may be especially useful. They can help viewers understand how Chiarella and the cast shaped a story where desire and terror are intertwined so closely.
NEON’s announcement gives Leviticus a firm path from festival favorite to home viewing. The film arrives digitally on July 28, 2026, with Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Combo and DVD editions set for September 8, 2026.
For anyone drawn to horror that cuts close to the heart, Leviticus brings its haunted love story home soon. Its central idea is simple and cruel: what if the thing chasing you wore the face of the person you wanted most?
