A much anticipated same-sex attraction/sexual attraction conversion therapy movie had been initially projected to earn multiple Oscar nominations. Unfortunately, the Lucas Hedges/Nicole Kidman/Joel Edgerton/Russell Crowe Boy Erased failed to live up to the hype. I had read the book earlier and hoped that the movie could capture the aspects of the novel I liked and take it to the next level. And despite decent Rotten Tomatoes critics and audience scores (81% and 72%), that didn’t happen for me.

But here we have this much less marketed movie in The Miseducation of Cameron Post with a much less recognized cast and a first-time director in Desiree Akhavan (Boy Erased was directed by Joel Edgerton, a pretty darn good actor turned director). Many didn’t see This lesser-known movie, earning less than $1 million domestically (compared to $7 million for Boy Erased, which could have been more successful). Still, it succeeded because of both its softness and its quietness. The movies were similar, and I’d like to know what Edgerton knew about Akhavan’s movie and vice versa. While Boy Erased underwhelmed (primarily due to my lofty expectations of it going in), something about it still made the movie more memorable than The Miseducation of Cameron Post. So, with that said, Boy Erased was better. Still, The Miseducation of Cameron Post was a more enjoyable movie that leaves you feeling more hopeful for those struggling with (and those not struggling with) same-sex attraction.

Let’s briefly look at some of the greatest LGBTQ movies of all time so, if nothing else, you can have some movies to check out if you don’t like this review. The conversation could start and end with Brokeback Mountain, the greatest film of this genre to date and one that could still be the best when we have this conversation 25 years from now. Others include A Single Man, Boys Don’t Cry, Milk, Carol, Blue Is the Warmest Color, The Kids Are All Right, The Hours, Philadelphia, and more. Unfortunately, neither Boy Erased nor The Miseducation of Cameron Post is there, but they are closer than further away. By this, I mean that these were watchable and thought-provoking movies with directors who did their research and actors who dug deep into their characters.

The Miseducation Cameron Post is set in 1993, some 25 years before its 2018 film date. Our lead character is Cameron Post (Chloe Grace Moretz – Hugo, Let Me In). Her parents died when she was younger, and she lives with Aunt Ruth (Kerry Butler – Mapplethorpe). She’s a church-goer and participates in a Bible study. But she is attracted to girls, and, unlike Jared in Boy Erased, she has no trouble acting out her same-sex attraction. She makes out with her best friend, Coley, one day in her room after school with no hesitation. Soon, after her school’s homecoming dance, she and Coley find a way to sneak away from their dates, find Cameron’s car, smoke some good weed, and start having sex. This film isn’t as graphic as Blue Is the Warmest Color. When Aunt Ruth discovers the secret relationship between Cameron and Coley, she is distraught. She sends her niece to “God’s Promise,” a religious gay conversion camp for young people with same-sex attraction issues. We know that Cameron isn’t interested in this conversion therapy, and I’m not sure if she ever believes it can work or if she’s being forced to go. This starkly contrasts with Jared in Boy Erased, who is clamoring his every hope of this conversion therapy working while being smart enough to know, from the near start of it, that it won’t.

Oddly, individuals with same-sex attraction at “God’s Promise” are paired with roommates of the same sex who have been there for the same reasons. Cameron’s roommate is Erin (Emily Skeggs – Mile 22, Love You to Death), a girl of the same age (late high school) who has been there long enough to have room decorating and mail privileges that Cameron, hopefully, will get later. All temptations of same-sex attraction are taken away, and the counselors of “God’s Promise,” including Reverend Rick (John Gallagher Jr. – 10 Cloverfield Lane, Short Term 12), who once experienced same-sex attraction himself, she soon learns, has the right to enter the room whenever he wants…no knocking is even needed. Nightly flashlight checks ensure that the “disciples, as they are called,” are in their rooms and, more importantly, alone in their beds.

Much like Boy Erased, there are daily lessons that talk about the sin of homosexuality and techniques of how to get out of same-sex attraction, including success stories. She’s vivacious and genuinely believes that “God’s Promise” can fix her. Erin introduces her to others, including the camp director, Dr. Lydia Marsh (Jennifer Ehle – The Adjustment Bureau, The King’s Speech). Like the staff in “Love in Action,” the same-sex attraction conversion therapy facility in Boy Erased, these people believe they are doing the right thing and think they can avert these individuals from their same-sex attraction or same-sex activities. It’s a massive debate that I don’t have the time or desire to discuss. My one-word belief on the subject is that it doesn’t work.

The staff at “God’s Promise” uses the iceberg analogy…that same-sex attraction is the tip of the iceberg, but that it’s just the visible part and the reasons underneath need to be examined. Veterans and new friends of the program, Adam (Forrest Goodluck – The Revenant) and Jane (Sasha Lane – American Honey, Hearts Beat Loud), tell her to write down just the things that she knows the counselors and staff want to hear. It’s the quickest way to leave disciples alone. Keep in mind Adam and Jane are telling her this as they sneak off to smoke marijuana. The two of them become those to whom she can relate the most and, eventually, her closest friends. There are plenty of people to tell the young and impressionable Cameron that she is a messed up person, but two of those people are not Adam and Jane. They are going through the same trials and tribulations as she is. Some of her closest confidants have betrayed Cameron, and others, whom she looked up to, come to convince her that they either don’t know what they are doing or don’t care about her.

Plot 8.5/10
Character Development 8.5/10
Character Chemistry 8.5/10
Acting 7.5/10
Screenplay 7.5/10
Directing 8/10
Cinematography 7/10
Sound 7/10
Hook and Reel 8.5/10
Universal Relevance 10/10
81%

B-

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