Louis Theroux's Manosphere Documentary Criticized for Ignoring Women's Impact
Louis Theroux's latest documentary, Inside the Manosphere, now streaming on Netflix, arrives late to a crowded field of investigations into online misogyny. While Theroux adopts a refreshingly direct approach, the film faces significant criticism for its failure to adequately examine how this toxic ideology impacts women and girls who never chose to be part of it.
A Harder Stance, But Familiar Ground
The documentary runs for ninety minutes, covering well-trodden territory previously explored by other filmmakers, including James Blake's Men of the Manosphere. Theroux, however, dials down his signature ignorant-ingenue persona, opting for a more confrontational style. This shift is welcome, as his traditional baffled observer act has grown increasingly strained and ineffective when dealing with matters of such urgent social importance.
Theroux directly challenges online influencers peddling the "red pill" ideology—a term borrowed from The Matrix that signifies a supposed awakening to the truth about society's alleged war against men. He attempts to break through their defensive posturing, most notably in an early interview with Harrison Sullivan, known online as hstikkytokky.
Superficial Humanity and Depressing Extremism
Sullivan, a twenty-three-year-old fitness influencer turned "masculinity coach," fled the UK after a car crash and was later convicted of dangerous driving. Their interaction at an outdoor gym reveals moments of ordinary humanity, as Theroux lightly mocks Sullivan's focus on physical appearance. This fleeting connection makes the subsequent content even more disheartening.
The documentary showcases the extreme, monetizable content that defines the manosphere: relentless aggression, humiliation of women, and encouragement for followers to avoid being "cucks." Quotes like "Destroy her life" and "I dictate when I wanna put my dick in you, bitch" highlight the movement's violent misogyny. Sullivan's hypocrisy is laid bare—he promotes OnlyFans accounts but would disown a daughter for participating, and he would disown a son for being gay, despite claiming his mother hates misogyny.
Missed Opportunities and Unexplored Angles
The film briefly features the girlfriends and wives of these men, often in "one-sided monogamous" relationships, and includes an appearance by Sullivan's mother. However, these perspectives are quickly sidelined, as the men likely feared they would go off-script. This represents a major missed opportunity.
Critics argue Theroux should have pursued how the manosphere affects those outside its bubble: schoolgirls and teachers dealing with boys exposed to this content, and young women struggling to find partners unaffected by its ideology. Instead, the documentary focuses on the childhoods of the interviewees, which can seem like excuse-hunting rather than a rigorous interrogation of the widespread appetite for woman-hating rhetoric.
Notably, there has yet to be a major documentary on this subject presented by a woman. A film from the perspective of someone like Sullivan's mother might offer fresh, crucial insights currently lacking in the conversation.
Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is available for streaming on Netflix, but its failure to center the experiences of women leaves a significant gap in understanding the full impact of online misogyny.
