New Horror Movie Debuts To Rare Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score As It Nears 7-Figure Deal

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As a horror fan, I’m always on the lookout for something fresh, and the buzz coming out of Sundance – and now confirmed by early scores on Rotten Tomatoes – suggests we might have a really interesting new one on the horizon. It definitely looks promising!

The horror film Leviticus had its first showing near midnight on Friday at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. It’s the first feature film directed by Adrian Chiarella, and tells the story of two teenage boys who fall in love but must run from a dangerous force that appears as their ideal partner (according to festival.sundance.org). The film has received positive reviews and a significant distribution agreement following its premiere.

As of January 27th, the film Leviticus has achieved a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from 10 critics. Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting described it as a “tense, atmospheric, and claustrophobic vision of young love in a hateful world.” Several critics also praised the film’s ending. Deadline reports that NEON has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Leviticus for a seven-figure sum.

This is a major achievement for Leviticus, particularly considering the successful year NEON has had. In 2025, NEON released several highly praised films – Sentimental Value, The Secret Agent, It Was Just an Accident, and Arco – that are now contenders for the 2026 Oscars. NEON’s track record of selecting excellent movies further highlights the quality of Leviticus.

The new film Leviticus stars Mia Wasikowska, known for her role in Alice in Wonderland, alongside Joe Bird, Stacy Clausen, Jeremy Blewitt, Ewen Leslie, David McKenzie, Nicholas Hope, and Zhara Newman. While a release date hasn’t been confirmed, it’s currently expected around 2026. Sundance has provided details about the film’s central themes and highlighted Wasikowska and Bird as the lead actors.

A remote Australian town becomes the setting for intense religious extremism and the harm it inflicts on LGBTQ+ teens, creating a tense and suffocating atmosphere. Actors Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen beautifully portray Naim and Ryan, two teenagers drawn to each other as they explore their feelings, but constantly threatened by both physical danger and spiritual oppression.

Director Chiarella has previously created short films like Black Lips and Dwarf Planet. If her first feature film, Leviticus, is any indication, she could become a significant new voice in horror. Leviticus premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, which ran from January 22nd to February 1st, 2026.

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2026-01-27 17:28