Manhood Documentary Examines the Growth of the Penis Enlargement Industry

      Manhood, the intriguing new documentary exploring the rapidly expanding penis-enlargement industry, features numerous scenes where needles are used to inject penises. Yet, surprisingly, these are not the most discomforting moments.

      Debuting at SXSW, the film employs penis enhancement procedures as a metaphor for contemporary insecurities surrounding masculinity. Director Daniel Lombroso emphasizes small but significant details throughout.

      At one moment, an unidentified man receiving injections to enhance the girth of his penis remarks enviously that some of his friends are so well-endowed that women refuse to engage in sexual relations with them.

      He leaves it ambiguous why being too large for sex would be preferable to actually having sex. However, this moment highlights the film’s assertion that some men, influenced by pornography, podcasts, and various societal pressures, are more concerned with appearances than with behavior.

      Bill Moore, the film's central figure, argues early on that spending money to enlarge one's penis can be a worthwhile investment. He believes in the reality of Big Dick Energy and asserts that his patented girth-enhancement technique can provide men with the confidence necessary to revitalize their lives.

      His method increases girth through a series of costly injections done over multiple sessions. His success demonstrates that at least one individual has benefited from penis enlargement. (An important note: His focus is on width, not length, which he claims is difficult to increase.)

      Lombroso and his team take a step back, allowing their subjects to share their experiences without judgment, resulting in some astonishing moments. The director was intrigued by the subject, partly due to the secrecy surrounding the procedure.

      “I believe it's becoming more common. There are no statistics,” Lombroso stated. “We attempted to pinpoint this, but anecdotally, when I initiated the project, there were a few clinics, and now there are 32 in every major city.”

      In a Q&A following a screening of Manhood on Monday, Lombroso and his team sought to frame penis enlargement within the context of a masculinity crisis, looksmaxxing, and the Manosphere populated by male-centric podcasters.

      “We are undeniably in an exceptionally strange news era, and the truth is debatable. Many people treat podcasts like news these days,” remarked Kerry Mack, a producer of the film. “With an overload of information, we just hear voices, making it hard to differentiate between a journalist and some random person with a microphone.”

      Aside from Moore, Manhood primarily focuses on Ruben Ramirez, a father of five who spends significantly on penis enlargement before facing financial difficulties, and David, a young man concealing his homosexuality and burgeoning video fame from his religious mother.

      David seeks injections to appear larger on camera but undergoes a botched enlargement procedure—one that is not performed by Moore. Throughout the film, he attempts to arrange a procedure to remove the remnants of the failed enlargement. He is charming and kind, serving as an excellent cautionary tale about the potential dangers of penis enlargement.

      How Manhood Director Daniel Lombroso Encouraged Men to Discuss Penis Enlargement

      During Monday’s Q&A, Lombroso revealed that he previously worked at The New Yorker before choosing to make this film, which surprised some of his coworkers. He gained the trust of his interview subjects by first establishing a rapport with Moore and then spending time in his waiting room, asking patients if they'd be willing to talk about their procedures on camera.

      Many agreed, some anonymously, while others showed no reluctance.

      “I would sit in the waiting room and introduce myself to everyone coming in. The patients were remarkable,” Lombroso shared. “While many weren't identified in the film, I met a well-known megachurch pastor, a border patrol agent, Ruben, a dairy farmer, and a divorced individual re-entering the dating scene. We aimed to be patient with them until they felt ready.”

      Ramirez, who attended the Q&A alongside Moore and the filmmakers, expressed no regrets about the procedure or his involvement in the film. As a comedian and avid listener of comedy-related podcasts, including The Joe Rogan Experience, he mentioned in Manhood that he first learned about penis enlargement from Moore’s appearance on Your Mom’s House, hosted by Christina Pazsitzky and Tom Segura.

      “It’s simply not a topic we discuss,” he commented on Monday. “Even among a few guys, it still feels awkward to bring it up.”

      Ramirez stated that going public about the procedure was about being transparent, just as he is in his comedy.

      “I prefer to live in the moment,” he explained. “I mean, I even decided to get the injections because of what I heard on the podcast.”

      He also endorsed the procedure: “I would tell any guy considering it, why not? Instead of that BMW, just get the Civic and a big cock.”

      Moore conveyed his hope that the film would encourage men to be more open about cosmetic surgery.

      “What this film probes is why it’s so difficult for men to discuss having cosmetic procedures,