Louis Theroux's latest documentary, 'Inside the Manosphere', has been praised for its harder-hitting approach, though critics note it lacks focus on the impact on women. The film explores the online world of 'red pill' ideology, where influencers promote anti-women content for profit.
Theroux, known for his 'ignorant-ingenue' style, adopts a more direct tone, challenging figures like Harrison Sullivan, known as hstikkytokky. In one exchange, Theroux questions Sullivan's masculinity standards, leading to a rare moment of self-awareness from the influencer.
The documentary highlights the hypocrisy of these men, who condemn women for behaviours they themselves profit from. Sullivan, for example, promotes OnlyFans accounts but would disown a daughter who did the same. Theroux presses on these contradictions, though the men often evade with illogical justifications.
While the film includes brief appearances from girlfriends and mothers, it misses an opportunity to examine the broader societal effects. Critics argue it should have explored how schoolgirls and young women navigate a world where misogyny is normalised by such content.
Theroux's focus on the childhoods of his subjects, rather than the victims, leaves a gap. The documentary is a chilling look at the manosphere, but its failure to centre the female experience weakens its impact.
