Lately, movie theaters have been filled with a strange mix of films.  These pictures show powerful and controlling men.  These men are the main characters in the story. Sometimes they treat people poorly or are overly competitive.   And yet, these movies have something strange in common.  The idea of toxic masculinity has been a hot topic for a while now.  People who are progressive and passionate about taking action have talked about it.  The trend started when The #MeToo movement.  The phrase refers to some things. Like being out of touch with emotions or being violent.  These phrases are tied to traditional ideas of manhood.   These trends date back many years.  But now, we're seeing some pushback on these ideas.  As seen with the electio of Donald Trump, people are asking questions. And we've seen this idea of toxic masculinity in many movies.  Movies like Deep Water and Instinct have come out over the last few years. They show these controlling and ambitious men.  These films also show how the conversation around toxic masculinity.  They seem to go back and forth.  While the movies try to show these men as bad, they also show them as compelling.  These characters seem to have a magnetic pull on viewers.   This is not the first time we've seen this kind of plot.  But with the gender roles flipped.  Think of the 1940s, when movie clans featured the femme fatale.  These were women who were both alluring and dangerous.  They were impossible to ignore, but also deadly to get close to.  Today, the focus is on the toxic male.  The question is why do people like them?  Do they like this character?   These messages seem to be something many people are enjoying.  The change in tone comes as a surprise to some but it seems people can't get enough of it.  Movies don't just reflect society.  They shape it. So it's up to us to figure out what we think of this trend.  Is it good?  Is it bad?  Are we back to a way things used to be?  Or in a whole new territory?  Nobody can say for sure.  But, the fact that we can't stop watching is a little bit worrisome.

The Rise of the Dangerous Man: Why We Can't Stop Watching Toxic Masculinity on the Big Screen

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