SummaryIn the 1970s, five men struggling with being gay in their Evangelical church started a Bible study to help each other leave the "homosexual lifestyle." They quickly received over 25,000 letters from people asking for help and formalized as Exodus International, the largest and most controversial conversion therapy organization in the world. But l... Read More
Directed By:Kristine Stolakis
Pray Away
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
User score
Generally Favorable
6.5
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
76
91% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
9% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Aug 10, 2021
100
At its core, Pray Away is a chronicle of pain. It is a candid, unceremonious study of people who have struggled for years with discovering who they are and who God is; and, perhaps most importantly, it is an exploration in the lasting damage caused by misinterpreting Biblical teachings and misunderstanding the Gospel’s message.
Jul 1, 2021
90
Stolakis presents the facts in a studied but engaging manner. The testimonies from her subjects are genuine and heartfelt, especially as they continue to struggle with their faith in light of what is seen as God’s “failings” in their lives.
Aug 2, 2021
88
Stolakis skillfully interweaves present-day interviews with archival footage of these prominent figures in the movement — all of whom have renounced their roles and are now living as out gays or bisexuals.
Aug 6, 2021
80
The film is measured yet forceful, never strident in making its point.
Aug 7, 2021
70
With every added account of shameful contrition, the realization that this issue exists very much in the present tense weighs heavy on the viewer.
Aug 3, 2021
70
The harms conversion therapy causes, and the tactics it uses, aren’t news at this point, and Pray Away is more interesting when it focuses on how most of its subjects eventually embraced gay and bisexual identities despite having formerly been so public in their homophobia. Some shifts weren’t long ago.
Aug 2, 2021
44
Despite its important subject and impressive access, the surprisingly surface-level film doesn’t have much to say.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.5
80% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
20% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Sep 1, 2021
7
While this documentary does a fine job in conveying the pain inflicted by conversion therapy, it doesn't really add anything new on the topic and does seem to skim the surface on what is important subject.
Dec 13, 2022
0
Yet another documentary trying to portray conservatives as victims as opposed to literal **** **** that were willing to harm other people until they were personally affected. Every single person interviewed in this documentary would have killed themselves years ago if they had any sense of shame. The damage they inflicted on our country and their community is disgusting, and netflix giving them a **** soap box is even moreso.
Production Company:
- Blumhouse Productions
- Lamplighter Films
- Multitude Films
- Naked Edge Films
- Ryan Murphy Productions
- Secret Sauce Media
Release Date:Aug 3, 2021
Duration:1 h 41 m
Rating:PG-13
Awards
Tribeca Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards
• 1 Nomination
Dorian Film Awards
• 1 Nomination
