Louis Theroux's latest documentary, 'Inside the Manosphere', has sparked debate and criticism, leaving viewers with a sense of unease and disappointment. The documentary delves into the world of misogynistic internet influencers, but it fails to offer any meaningful insights or revelations. The central issue lies in the nature of Theroux's subjects, who are not willing to reveal their true selves, as they have nothing to hide.
Theroux's approach, which has been successful in the past, involves interviewing people who are easy to hate, such as members of the Westboro Baptist Church or bigoted residents of whites-only communities. In these cases, his relaxed and disarming style puts his subjects at ease, allowing them to reveal intimate details about themselves. However, in 'Inside the Manosphere', the subjects are not willing to engage in this type of self-disclosure.
The documentary opens with Theroux in Marbella, Spain, visiting Harrison Sullivan, a 24-year-old British manosphere influencer. Sullivan, who is documenting his luxurious life on the lam after allegedly fleeing the scene of his wrecked McLaren in Surrey, England, is quick to point out that they are filming. This sets the tone for the rest of the documentary, where the subjects are constantly aware of being watched and are not willing to reveal anything personal.
The lack of self-disclosure is a significant problem, as it prevents Theroux from gaining any meaningful insights into the minds and motivations of his subjects. Without this, the documentary fails to offer any valuable perspectives or understanding of the manosphere phenomenon.
In my opinion, Theroux's approach in this documentary is flawed. He has always been successful in his previous works because he was able to extract intimate details from his subjects. However, in 'Inside the Manosphere', he is met with resistance, and the subjects are not willing to engage in the type of self-reflection and honesty that Theroux requires. This results in a documentary that is superficial and lacks the depth and insight that his previous works have provided.
The documentary's failure to offer any meaningful insights or revelations is a missed opportunity. It leaves viewers with a sense of frustration and disappointment, as they are not given the opportunity to understand the manosphere phenomenon in a deeper and more nuanced way. Ultimately, 'Inside the Manosphere' is a disappointment, and it highlights the challenges of documenting a subject that is not willing to reveal its true self.
