Movie Review: Louis Theroux – Inside the Manosphere
One-liner: A bold, provocative and incisive documentary and unsettling investigative exposé of the rise of “alpha” influencers.
Inside the Manosphere is a documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Louis Theroux, who sets out to investigate the “Manosphere” – a burgeoning movement of social media influencers who have capitalised on the idea of pushing ultra-masculinity in reaction to shifts in gender and identity politics.
In recent years, there has been a significant unpicking of what it means to be a man in Western culture, giving rise to numerous reactionary theories regarding the gender debate. A growing number of men have begun leaning heavily on testosterone-fueled leaders who command strong youth followings by discussing and exemplifying what it means to be a “successful” man in today’s world.
Fast cars, many women, peak fitness and sharp style – combined with an aggressive attitude toward business and relationships -position these men as successful boundary-pushers. In the process, they have carved out small fortunes for themselves, often through links to figures like Andrew Tate and various organisations of dubious reputation. Theroux meets these figures to uncover their stories, attempting to make sense of the catalysts for their extreme viewpoints. Throughout the film, Theroux embeds himself with his subjects to hold a mirror up to them, acting as both a guide and a spokesperson within the narrative.
The result is a form of verbal sparring; the subjects are compelled to defend their views and lifestyles after spending so much time promoting their controversial opinions to their massive audiences. Louis Theroux manages to enter their world and ask some uncomfortable questions.
“Mind if I have a sip?”
The first subject, Harrison Sullivan, receives the most attention. Sullivan is visibly suspicious of Theroux, who constantly attempts to outsmart his interviewer and find loopholes, always circling back to his pride in doing things his own way. His empire is built on fitness, risqué videos and financial schemes, all proliferated through social media and messaging services. By exploring Sullivan’s complex relationship with his mother, Theroux manages to find several precarious tipping points in his subject’s persona.
His second subject, Justin Waller, a man from Louisiana, seemingly “has it all”: good looks, powerful connections, luxury vehicles, chic accommodation, and any woman he pleases. Peeling back the layers, Theroux seeks out the most significant women in these men’s lives to question how they view the politics of their partners. Upon finally speaking to Waller’s wife, the “one-way monogamy” of their arrangement comes under the spotlight, giving Waller a chance to expand on his views and revealing a deep-seated, if unconventional, honesty at the heart of their relationship.
The third subject, Myron Gaines, is a podcast host with particularly polarizing views. There appears to be a duality at play between his everyday self and his “radio personality,” which is a much more vehement and fierce iteration of his ideology. Through Gaines, Theroux explores a curious exchange between influencers; governed by a “scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” policy, there seems to be a strange exploitation at play as they all strive to maximize their respective audiences and hustles. An interview with Myron’s partner adds another layer of palpable discomfort.
The final interviewee, Sneako, is a prolific internet sensation whose political shift in recent years demonstrates the ultimate goal of these figures: capturing viral appeal and leveraging fame to acquire genuine power. In each case, Theroux highlights a mix of savvy social media strategy, questionable business practices, and wavering hypocrisy. Ultimately, Inside the Manosphere serves as an exposé of the movement’s biggest proponents and the mechanics of their internet fame.
This isn’t one way traffic or character assassination; Theroux allows his subjects to throw arguments back at him, often entering the fray with his hands up. He mines deeper issues with probing questions – some so pointed you wonder why his subjects entertain him at all. By venturing into the shadows of the Manosphere, he emerges with fascinating observations. There’s a curious tension throughout, as the act of filming the documentary itself becomes content for the subjects, with their own audiences raising cautions and obstacles in real-time.
Inside the Manosphere is a brave and fascinating political chronicle, a time capsule of a moment where masculinity has become a politically volatile issue against the backdrop of modern politics. It highlights unconventional ideologies and leads to a provocative, thought-provoking discussion regarding the hero worship of these figures, the illusion of social media, and the moral grey areas in which they operate.
The bottom line: Provocative
