By no means are any of these sex oriented in a way that may be appealing to the average teenage boy. A majority of these feature films/documentaries/television shows present sex in a raw and at times, disturbing way. No less, they are incredibly truthful and insightful, and will cause you to rethink some of the common misconceptions you’ve undoubtedly harbored (at one time or another) about pornography, prostitution and certain sexual practices that may seem deviant or outside of the hetero-normative confines we as a society have built.
If you’re looking for something “sexy,” this isn’t the list for you. I recommend you order Fifty Shades of Grey on demand, and call it a day. If you’re looking to push the envelope a bit, and perhaps learn something, keep reading.
Nymphomaniac Volumes I and II:
Disclaimer: If you’re squeamish, I don’t recommend watching the uncut version of this film. Netflix offers both selections. This film isn’t about being a sex addict at all, but rather a nymphomaniac (a term that is often completely ignored by modern psychology and replaced by sex addict). A lot of people assume that nymphomania and being addicted to the act of sex are the same thing. The main protagonist, Joe, through the telling of her story, disproves that theory.
After Porn Ends
I have to admit, this wasn’t nearly as thrilling as I initially believed it would be. I think I had the perception that porn stars were somehow larger than life individuals whose personalities reflected their careers. Much like we as a society assume police officers to be kind and brave, I assumed porn stars to be vulgar and theatrical (for lack of a better term). Once again, this documentary discounts that notion entirely. Many of the featured individuals were intelligent, soft-spoken, and dare I say, meek, in comparison to their day jobs.
Tricked
First and foremost, there are a few males in this film that I wanted to outright strangle through the computer screen. I won’t spoil anything but the term misogynistic pig doesn’t even begin to cover the mentality that some of these self-proclaimed, “pimps” walk around spewing. In between fits of rage, I was able to see just how destructive sex trafficking can be–in this very country. This isn’t just a problem in the third world, it exists here in The United States–every single day. The most poignant message of the documentary is that more people are enslaved in 2015 than ever before in history. That hit me like a ton of bricks.
Buying Sex
I had studied the legalization of prostitution a great deal during my time in college, so this documentary was right-up-my-alley. This film argues both sides incredibly well and tactfully, but frankly, it left me more confused than ever on the matter. I don’t know if it will ever be legalized across the board, and I’m not sure what to make of that.
Are All Men Pedophiles?
The title in itself was enough to peak my interest. I think pedophilia is quite possibly the most disturbing form of sexual attraction in existence, and certainly the most detrimental, not only to the victims, but also to the pedophiles themselves. This documentary is definitely controversial, but informative about a subject that has become ever more and more present in modern society.
The L Word
I watched, “The Real L Word,” on Showtime for a bit and while it was worthwhile, I think that after a point all reality television stars are merely playing a fictional role anyway. Eventually they each began to turn into the fictional stereotype that was portrayed on “The L Word,” so why not just watch and spare yourself the sensationalism of reality TV? I’m straight, so I have no idea if actual members of the LGBT community appreciated the series, but I myself thought it was informative, witty, at times corny, but revolutionary no less.
Hot Girls Wanted
This was was pretty eye-opening when it came to how much a role social media and the internet has played in the porn industry. I obviously realized that the internet changed the face of porn forever, but I only thought it affected how we view porn, not who gets involved in it. I was shocked, and sort of disgusted to discover just how many amateur porn stars are recruited in this country every single day from all walks of life. After they’re recruited, more often than not, they’re chewed up and spit out within 3 months and replaced by even younger, more fresh-faced girls. Out of all of the documentaries about pornography on Netflix, this one hit closest to home given the age of these women.
There are countless examples of exceptional entertainment on Netflix dealing with the same themes and social issues as above, however, I found these to be the best.
If you have any suggestions of your own, feel free to leave them in the comment section.