Film Of The Month: The Pickup Game Unveils Hidden Horrors of the Multi-Million Dollar Pickup Industry

PUBLISHED September 22nd, 2020 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 02:32 pm

The Pickup Game exposes the secrets of the multi-million dollar ‘pickup’ industry, aimed at helping men become successful (read: have sex) with women. And no, the answer isn’t a good old-fashioned wine-and-dine. It’s more along the lines of employing coercive and manipulative tactics to trick women into sleeping with them. A real-life horror movie, if there ever was one.

“For most men, dating is a form of gambling…rolling the dice hoping that they’re going to get lucky.” But if one wants something that’s a little more reliable than luck, well, that’s what the pickup industry is for.

Following the bestselling novel The Game (2005), this documentary follows the growth of the industry, from its humble beginnings as a confidence-building dating tutorial for men in the late 1980s to its current insidious network of misogynistic practices aimed at manipulating women. Interviews with instructors (or, as we shudder to call them, pickup ‘gurus’) is interspersed with a smattering of ‘infield videos’; men employing pickup tactics on women in the ‘field’.

Now, at this point, I’m sure this sounds like a film you don’t want to watch. It’s exactly as horrifying as it sounds, mired in a culture of objectifying, degrading, and assaulting women. But whether guy, gal, or non-binary pal, I do think you can take something away from this film.

The crux of the film is that the real name of the game is insecurity. The documentary slowly unveils how the pickup industry thrives by playing on the insecurities of both women and men, trapping men who’re insecure about their prowess with women and teaching them to use manipulative tactics that prey on the insecurities of women. And while the nauseating infield videos might tell a tale of their overwhelming success, former members of the industry unravel what it truly is: a sham.

From misleading edits failing to show pickup instructors striking out, to hiring actresses to create ‘successful’ infield videos, an anonymous former marketing expert for the industry unpacks the marketing scams that are the real reason for its success. Indeed, the documentary ends on the poignant note of how the men that fall victim to the insidious pickup industry are ultimately unfulfilled, sapped of their humanity.

However, while the film strives for a nuanced take, its failure to seriously address the important issue of sexual consent and violence against women is a little disappointing. While it does feature the perspective of a rare female dating coach, its almost apathetic tone in discussing the industry’s appalling practices is a lot to stomach. Its discussion of the gruesome 2016 rape case perpetrated by members of the pickup community is almost too little too late, barely taking up the last half hour. Violence against women remains just a part of the background, serving only to illustrate the narrative.

But while the film itself doesn’t necessarily present the most balanced perspective, it serves as a great starting point to open up conversation and cultivate more empathy. The film illustrates how small insecurities in people can be exploited and blown up into a culture that promotes overwhelming violence. These are important conversations to have, particularly now as issues of consent and sexual assault are becoming more prominent than ever. Take the time to reflect and have open conversations with friends and family about the culture of insecurity that surrounds sex and relationships, and how to navigate it in a healthy, respectful manner. That’s what’ll make all 96 gut-churning minutes of this documentary worth it.

The Pickup Game is available for streaming on www.iwonder.com from 24 September 2020.

Images from The Pickup Game/www.iwonder.com.