Review of The Red Pill (2016) by Thunderfunk — 27 May 2017

Ultimately, the documentary was disappointing. My main gripe was that the narrator, Cassie Jaye, wasn't particularly inquisitive or analytical. While the viewer does hear from male and female MRAs –.

In a more temperate, controlled environment – about the issues the movement alleges to advocate (e.g. custody, parental equality, mental issues), these efforts are actually occluded online by a reactive victim complex and constant women-bashing (e.g. Return of Kings, A Voice for Men). Not once did Cassie call them to task on all of that, which was rather alarming especially given that she was a self-proclaimed feminist.

There were a few countering views from feminists but I felt more platform was given to the MRAs to lament that men's issues are being 'ignored', 'shouted down' or 'obstructed' by 'male-bashing' feminists [a pretty ironic accusation, given that online MRAs are doing exactly the same thing to women]. That isn't even the case, for reasons explained previously. Overall, the reasons put forward for the men's rights movements were either commonplace (i.e. already recognised within gender identity studies) or irrational, collectively making for a rather unconvincing conclusion that made me dubious as to how and why they were enough for Cassie to swiftly denounce her support of feminism. Then I read somewhere else that The Red Pill was a Kickstarter job heavily campaigned by A Voice for Men and many MRA subreddits and it all made sense.

I would recommend this documentary if you're not aware whatsoever that there are social issues unique to men (which seemed to bowl over Cassie Jaye in a questionably jejune way), otherwise if you have some fundamental awareness, you won't learn anything from this and – perhaps – will become irritated by its construction more than anything else.