So I had this random urge to revisit “Latter Days” the other night, This gem actually came out in 2003 and quickly became one of my favorite films. This is a beautiful mess of a film that somehow manages to be heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time.
I’ll be real with you – I went into this rewatch expecting it to feel dated or cheesy, but damn if it didn’t grab me by the feelings again. The whole thing revolves around Christian, this party boy living in West Hollywood who’s basically the human equivalent of a glitter bomb. Steve Sandvoss plays Aaron, one of the Mormon missionaries who moves in next door, and honestly, the chemistry between these two just jumps off the screen in the most unexpected way.
What gets me every single time is how the movie doesn’t paint anyone as completely good or evil, you know? Christian starts out as this shallow club kid who makes a bet with his friends about seducing one of the missionaries. It sounds gross when I put it like that, but Wes Ramsey brings this vulnerability to the character that makes you root for him even when he’s being awful. And Aaron? He’s not just some naive religious boy—Sandvoss gives him this quiet strength that builds throughout the film.
The supporting cast is pretty solid too. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has this tiny role as a hustler, and even though he’s barely in it, he leaves an impression. Jacqueline Bisset shows up as Christian’s boss at the restaurant, and she’s got this world-weary wisdom thing going on that I absolutely love. But honestly, it’s Mary Kay Place as Aaron’s mother that just destroys me every time. That woman can say more with a look than most actors can with a whole monologue.
What I appreciate about this movie is how it doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of faith and sexuality colliding. Director C. Jay Cox doesn’t give us easy answers, and some of the religious stuff might make you squirm—but that’s kinda the point? The whole excommunication subplot is brutal to watch, especially knowing that this stuff happens to real people every day.
The pacing feels a bit uneven in places, I’ll admit. There are moments where it drags, and some of the dialogue gets a little preachy. But then you get these absolutely gorgeous quiet moments between Christian and Aaron that just hit you right in the chest. That scene where they’re talking on the roof? Pure magic.
Here’s something wild I learned while looking this up again—the movie was actually banned from playing in Salt Lake City when it first came out because of its content. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, several theater chains refused to show it, which is both infuriating and sadly not surprising. You can check out their coverage from back then if you want to dive deeper into that particular drama.
I think what makes this movie stick with me is how it captures that feeling of discovering parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. Both Christian and Aaron go through these massive transformations, but they feel earned rather than forced. It’s messy and imperfect, just like real life.
And OMG…that ending! But I shall not say more lest I venture into spoiler territory.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, 100%. Is it perfect? Not even close. But sometimes the flawed movies are the ones that end up meaning the most to us.
Nick’s Awakening is the first book in my Ghost Oracle series and follows a teen boy who reads Tarot cards, receives visions and sees ghosts. Follows his adventures as he tries to help the spirits that come to him: https://buff.ly/3R31RCV