Displaying items by tag: Louis Theroux

LOUIS THEROUX: INSIDE THE MANOSPHERE

US, 2026, 91 minutes, Colour.

Louis Theroux.

Directed by Adrian Choa.

Cinema-journalist, Louis Theroux, has been making interview documentaries for many years. He is a likeable screen presence, becoming involved in conversations, questions, sometimes taking a moral tone, but negotiating conversations with controversial characters.

This is especially the case here, an exploration, focused in 90 minutes only, on the manosphe, the realm of such influences as Andrew Tate and his brother, seen briefly in television interviews here, but influencing the male social media entrepreneurs, especially Justin Waller in this film.

The documentary offers an opportunity to listen to several of the influences, principally American, some British, who espouse theories about men, the fact that they are to be the leaders, warriors, protectors, knowing women better than themselves, controlling them, using them emotionally and sexually, stating that the 21^st-century world has turned against men so that they have to assert their roles. And a phrase that is used is toxic masculinity.

It is interesting to see how Theroux approaches key men for the film, gets them onside, appreciates that they are getting publicity on social media and that often their interviews are being simultaneously screened on social media.

The English influencer is Harrison Sullivan, and the expected opinions, strategies, success, self-promotion, fans and disciples. He also reveals that he is principally interested in money, as he sells programs on social media for people to invest, train, make money – and his boasting of how much he has made. His attitude towards women is very dominating, even callous – although there are sequences with his mother who disagrees with him (but accuses Theroux himself of exploiting the situation is for financial gain).

There are also extensive discussions with Justin Waller, Miami-based, returning to his native Louisiana. He is married, believes in single monogamy that is only for his wife. His wife is interviewed, espousing the theory that their lives are in separate channels (she in the more subservient). Weller is quite boastful, has sumptuous offices in Miami, boasts of his connections with Donald Trump.

Also in Miami is Myron Gains, again with programs, particularly sexist and women that he has on his program, criticising them, dismissing them, especially on the issues of physical beauty and size… Again, connections with the MAGA movement.

In New York, there is Sneako, again with the Maga connections, extreme comments on women, the dominance of men, but moving into conspiracy theories in the world ruled by Satanists.

Particularly disconcerting are some of the sequences where fans come up to the influencers on the street, discuss principles of toxic masculinity, are rather adoring in their attitudes towards the influencers, and again, groups of young men, adolescent boys, approaching their as their idols.

At times, Theroux does insert some moral questions which the influencers sweetly comment on and avoid.

As with this kind of documentary, the interviews are left for themselves to make an impact on the audiences and audiences to decide for themselves.