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Pray Away

  • 2021
  • PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Pray Away (2021)
In 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 leaders struggled with a secret: their own "same-sex attractions" never went away. After years as superstars in the religious right, many of these men and women have come out as LGBTQ, disavowing the very movement they helped start. Focusing on the dramatic journeys of former conversion therapy leaders, current members, and a survivor, PRAY AWAY chronicles the "ex gay" movement's rise to power, its unscientific influence, and its legacy of profound harm.
Play trailer2:35
1 Video
7 Photos
Faith & Spirituality DocumentaryDocumentary

Former leaders of the "pray the gay away" movement contend with the aftermath unleashed by their actions, while a survivor seeks healing and acceptance from more than a decade of trauma.Former leaders of the "pray the gay away" movement contend with the aftermath unleashed by their actions, while a survivor seeks healing and acceptance from more than a decade of trauma.Former leaders of the "pray the gay away" movement contend with the aftermath unleashed by their actions, while a survivor seeks healing and acceptance from more than a decade of trauma.

  • Director
    • Kristine Stolakis
  • Stars
    • Yvette Cantu Schneider
    • Michael Bussee
    • John Paulk
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Kristine Stolakis
    • Stars
      • Yvette Cantu Schneider
      • Michael Bussee
      • John Paulk
    • 58User reviews
    • 52Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:35
    Official Trailer

    Photos6

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    Top cast19

    Edit
    Yvette Cantu Schneider
    Yvette Cantu Schneider
    • Self
    Michael Bussee
    Michael Bussee
    • Self - Co-Founder, Exodus
    John Paulk
    John Paulk
    • Self - Former Board President, Exodus
    Julie Rodgers
    Julie Rodgers
    • Self
    Jeffrey McCall
    Jeffrey McCall
    • Self
    Randy Thomas
    Randy Thomas
    • Self - Former Vice President, Exodus
    Alan Chambers
    Alan Chambers
    • Self - Former President, Exodus
    George W. Bush
    George W. Bush
    • Self - 43rd President of the United States
    • (archive footage)
    Ricky Chelette
    Ricky Chelette
    • Self - Executive Director, Living Hope
    • (archive footage)
    James Dobson
    James Dobson
    • Self - Popular Televangelist
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Dr. James Dobson)
    Jerry Falwell
    Jerry Falwell
    • Self - Popular Televangelist
    • (archive footage)
    Newt Gingrich
    Newt Gingrich
    • Self - Former Speaker of the House
    • (archive footage)
    Joni Lamb
    Joni Lamb
    • Self - Christian Broadcaster
    • (archive footage)
    Joseph Nicolosi
    Joseph Nicolosi
    • Self - Clinical Psychologist
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Dr. Joseph Nicolosi)
    Barack Obama
    Barack Obama
    • Self - 44th President of the United States
    • (archive footage)
    Anne Paulk
    Anne Paulk
    • Self - Executive Director, Restored Hope Network
    • (archive footage)
    Karl Rove
    Karl Rove
    • Self - Senior Advisor to George W. Bush
    • (archive footage)
    Lesley Stahl
    Lesley Stahl
    • Self - 60 Minutes Correspondent
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Kristine Stolakis
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews58

    6.53.7K
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    Featured reviews

    snperera

    AN EYE OPENING DOCUMENTARY!

    I HATE THE HATE AND ABUSE THAT THE CHURCH HAS DONE TO THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY! IT IS DISGUSTING! THIS DOCUMENTARY SHOWS THE TRAUMA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS THAT CONVERSION THERAPY CAN HAVE ON THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY! IF YOU SUPPORT THE LGBTQIA COMMUNITY AND YOU ARE AN ALLY TO WATCH THIS DOCUMENTARY OR IF YOU ARE APART OF THE LGBTQUIA COMMUNITY AND THIS DOCUMENTARY WON'T TRUGGER YOU OR ANYTHING THAN I ALSO SUGGEST TO WATCH THIS AND IT MIGHT BRING SOME HEALING.
    5erhanipekciler

    Excellent trailer, super slow documentary

    I think Ryan Murphy is the president of Netflix gay series producing department.. First of all when I saw trailer, i thought this is an eye opening, promising documentary but it is super slow and we are watching old discussions about homosexuality. Unfortunately it doesn't give anything new. Boring for me.
    6kristarosephillips

    Didn't really enjoy this

    Love the subject matter, think it is incredibly important. This documentary felt so slow. I unfortunately was bored (probably because the conversion nuts are hard a chore to listen to) and almost cut it off multiple times. Worth the watch if you need a background doc, but I recommend reading up on conversion and its horrors to get a better picture.
    7vzhuk

    Like it in some way.

    Here we can see same topic but from two different perspectives: the first one - those who run away for better, the 2nd - those who still pray for something they shouldn't.
    7Arts-student

    Well crafted but held back

    Overall well made, edited and the stories are compelling. I do not share other people's views that it should have been "trauma porn" as these things can often be. My real critique is that the filmmaker seemed unwilling to offend in the presentation. It didn't feel raw but sterile and too polished. An example of this is the unwillingness of this film to use the word "cult" when referring to these ministries.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Every reputable American medical association has condemned the practice of "conversion therapy" and the idea that sexual orientation can be changed as false and both medically and psychologically harmful. Organizations that have released statements censuring the practice include: the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and many others.
    • Quotes

      Self - Former Board President, Exodus: I realized that my dishonesty hurt people. Because I was dishonest, it caused people in the audience - people that were struggling with homosexuality or had gay feelings - to feel like, "There must be something wrong with me 'cause I'm not like him. And he doesn't- he's not tempted anymore. So if I'm tempted, I must be broken and damaged."

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    FAQ14

    • How long is Pray Away?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 3, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Multitude Films
      • Official Netflix
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 禱正:反同運動的醒與慟
    • Production companies
      • Blumhouse Productions
      • Lamplighter Films
      • Multitude Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 41m(101 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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