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The Dark Side of Pleasure

Journalist Louis Theroux looks back at 25 years of documentaries and explores how America has managed to take our darkest desires and commodify them.

Louis explores how America has managed to take our darkest desires, commodify them and turn them into a saleable product.

From his memorable Weird Weekends episodes on porn and rap to films about Las Vegas and the US opioid crisis, this episode explores a very human tendency to jump to the dark side when seeking out pleasure – whether through indulgence, risk-taking or the joy of doing something seen as ‘bad’ or 'wrong’.

Louis re-connects with porn-star JJ, who over 20 years ago was just making his way in the adult industry but has since turned his back on that world in favour of a new life in eastern Europe.

And Louis catches up once more with Katilia from Heroin Town, whom he last saw hopelessly addicted to drugs, with little sign of turning her life around.

10 months left to watch

59 minutes

Signed Audio described

Music Played

  • Juan García Esquivel

    Mini Skirt

  • N.W.A

    Straight Outta Compton

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Louis Theroux
Director Tom Barrow
Executive Producer Arron Fellows
Writer Louis Theroux
Production Company Mindhouse Productions

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