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The rise of the so-called manosphere has been going on for years — and it's the subject of Louis Theroux's latest documentary. Inside the Manosphere sees the probing interviewer doing what he does best and diving headfirst into a subculture and getting the people there to say what they really think. And why. This time, that subculture is the “global men’s rights movement” that typically sees young men being taught gender regressive ideologies — namely, that men in today's so-called ‘woke’ world are oppressed and that the feminist movement is making things worse for them.
The rise of these ideologies is unequivocally dangerous and harmful to both men and women. But, as Adolescence and, undoubtedly, this new documentary will remind us, they are on the rise not because of any inherent evil, but rather out of fear. More than half who subscribe to these beliefs think that feminism is about favouring women over men, while 63% of men believe ‘no one cares whether men are ok these days' and 68% of men believe that men should be more respected in society.
Here's what you need to know about Inside the Manosphere.
The documentary is coming to Netflix on 11 March.
What is Louis Theroux's Inside the Manosphere about?
Theroux dives into the world of the 'manosphere', an ideology that is reshaping and radicalising young men’s ideas about masculinity and manhood. The documentary will see Theroux exploring the online world where red pill ideologies run rampant, and misogyny is a given. He will also spend time with creators and influencers at the helm of the movement from Miami, New York and Marbella, like Harrison Sullivan (HSTikkyTokky), Myron Gaines, Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (Sneako), Justin Waller and Ed Matthews.
He'll also delve deep into their relationships with women — and explore why the women who choose to be in their lives appear to agree with their ideologies.
Ultimately, the documentary encourages us to think deeply about who is responsible for allowing this movement not only to exist, but also to continue growing online. How are social platforms like Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and X failing to support young people and instead leaving them vulnerable to these ideologies?
50% of men endorse extreme red-pill ideology, according to new research.
“I think you have to hold the influencers responsible, which is what we do in the film,” he told GQ. “But I think what you are talking about is something that’s slightly outside the remit of the film, which is both the media barons who are profiting from cynically deploying algorithms and platforms and technology in a way that kind of makes us the worst versions of ourselves. And to an extent, I suppose, a political and cultural establishment.”
And the experience should be confronting.
He added: “The thing is, we’re all kind of complicit in this to different degrees. No one’s got clean hands. And it would be nice if there were a handful of people who we could say are the problem, but that’s a conspiratorial framing for what we’re living through, which is that we’re kind of colluding in our own moronification. Helplessly drawn in, aware at the same time, as we are endlessly lashed to the screens of our phones as Odysseus was to his mast.”
Is there a trailer?
Yes, take a look here.
