Louis Theroux's Manosphere Documentary Criticised for Lack of Female Focus
It's a bit late to the party, is the initial thought when facing Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, a 90-minute Netflix documentary. Countless films have already covered leading figures in the lucrative online misogyny business, like Andrew Tate, or the general phenomenon, most recently by James Blake with Men of the Manosphere. Yet, can a subject truly be considered 'done' until Theroux tackles it? Evidently not, as he revisits ground previously explored by less high-profile documentarians.
A Shift in Approach
To his credit, Theroux dials down his usual ignorant-ingenue persona, adopting a slightly harder, more direct vibe when interviewing subjects. This is a refreshing change, as the old pose of silent bafflement and letting people hang themselves with their own words feels increasingly feeble and outdated, especially on matters of growing societal importance. Theroux is an intelligent man living in this world, and this shift allows him to confront online stars peddling anti-women 'red pill' ideology more effectively.
The term 'red pill', borrowed from The Matrix, refers to how these influencers claim to help followers see through mainstream media lies to the truth about society supposedly keeping men down. Theroux finds ways to break through their posturing, most notably in an early interview with 23-year-old Harrison Sullivan, known online as hstikkytokky. Sullivan, who fled a UK car crash scene to Marbella (and has since returned and been convicted of dangerous driving), started as a fitness instructor before coaching boys to be 'fucking boys, not soy boys or gimps.'
During a workout session, Theroux asks mildly, 'Is that how you see me?' After a pause, he laughs, 'Did you just look at my arms?' This question highlights the movement's superficiality, flustering Sullivan. When Theroux follows up by asking if it's leg day, Sullivan shows his muscular thigh, saying, 'Silly question, mate.' Theroux remarks, 'Calves need work,' eliciting a laugh from Sullivan: 'They do, they do.' This moment of ordinary humanity makes the rest of the documentary all the more depressing.
The Dark Reality of Online Misogyny
The film reveals an agglomeration of extreme content monetised for clicks, with creators taking joy in humiliating and abusing women, encouraging followers to do likewise and avoid being 'cucks.' Quotes like 'Destroy her life' and 'I dictate when I wanna put my dick in you, bitch... Women love guys like this, that tell it like it is' showcase endless aggression and hypocrisy. Sullivan admits his mother hates racism, homophobia, and especially misogyny, yet he runs an agency promoting OnlyFans accounts but would disown a daughter for doing it or a son for being gay. Theroux presses on these contradictions but gets only non sequiturs and illogical self-justifications, left unexplored due to time constraints.
Missed Opportunities and Critique
There are brief, potentially interesting appearances from girlfriends and wives, mostly in 'one-sided monogamous' relationships, and from Sullivan's mother. However, they rarely reappear, as the men likely fear they could go off-script. The documentary disappointingly fails to pursue what this means or examine how the manosphere affects those not part of it, such as schoolgirls, teachers dealing with exposed teenage boys, or young women struggling to find unaffected men to date. Instead, Theroux focuses on the interviewees' childhoods, which risks seeming like excuse-hunting rather than interrogating the vast appetite for women-hating content and the delight taken in spreading it.
Notably, there hasn't been a documentary on these men presented by a woman. Perhaps one by Sullivan's mother or someone her age could yield new insights. Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is available on Netflix now, but it leaves critical questions unanswered about the real-world impact on women and society at large.
