The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool

Oct 22, 2023

0h 53m

★ 0.0

Overview

Allegations of exploitation and abuse have emerged at one of the biggest fashion brands in the US. Former CEO Mike Jeffries transformed Abercrombie and Fitch from a failing retail chain to a multibillion-dollar empire and the epitome of cool. Now, after months of painstaking investigation, reporter Rianna Croxford speaks to men who say they were recruited into a dark world, created to satisfy the sexual fantasies of Mike Jeffries and his British partner Matthew Smith. Silenced for years by the fear of breaking non-disclosure agreements, these men describe feeling exploited and traumatized by their experience. One high-profile American lawyer has called for prosecutors to investigate.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

BBC

The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool Trailers

Cast

Himself

Mike Jeffries

Matthew Smith

This Emmy award-winning documentary explores the deeply rooted psychological issues that victims of sex trafficking face on a daily basis at the hands of pimps and buyers. Through firsthand testimony of abuse from three survivors of the illicit sex trade, the complex nature of this form of modern-day slavery is revealed. Investigative interviews with leading experts provide further insight on what drives the industry, exposing misconceptions many of us harbor that allow sex trafficking to thrive.

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0.0

Holy Water-Gate: Abuse Cover-up in the Catholic Church

Jul 5, 2004

The film begins as a personal journey of filmmaker, Mary Healey, who was also a Catholic. She films a series of historic events where we meet key players involved in the sexual abuse scandal, including victims, whistle-blower priests and a senior ranking US Cardinal who is called upon by the Vatican to control a waxing maelstrom.

5.5

Thieves of Innocence

Oct 7, 2005

Every year in Quebec, 25,000 reports of children being beaten, sexually abused or abandoned are retained by the Directorate of Youth Protection. And nearly 40% of babies who die in the province to die because of the violence of their parents. This explains the fact that nearly 30,000 children are supported by the DPJ until the age of 18. But this government agency is in a position to meet the needs of young people? Journalist and documentary filmmaker Paul Arcand presents the testimonies of children and adult victims of abuse of all kinds, and interviews politicians, social workers and members of the judiciary on their perception of the problem. In addition, Arcand denounces the carelessness of a bureaucratic system that does not always seem to be concerned about the well-being of those for whom they are responsible.

0.0

The Prison Within

Jan 17, 2020

Survivors of violent crimes and prisoners incarcerated for murder connect to undergo astonishing transformations, liberating themselves from the debilitating constraints of trauma, and shattering preconceptions of "us and them."

6.7

Body Without Soul

Nov 9, 1996

A stark documentary about young male prostitutes in Prague, aged 15 to 18, who work the streets, train stations, and clubs. Through candid interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of gay porn shoots, the film explores their lives, struggles, and dreams, touching on themes of exploitation, identity, AIDS, and survival.

6.0

Not Angels But Angels

Jul 1, 1994

Interviews with a procurer and with nineteen boys and young men who are prostitutes in Prague. The youths range in age from 14 to 19. They hustle at the central train station and at clubs. Most of their clients are foreign tourists, many are German. The youths talk about why they hustle, their first trick, prices, dangers, what they know about AIDS, their fears (disease and loneliness), and how they imagine their futures. The film's title, its liturgical score, much of it elegiac, and shots of the city's statues of angels underline the vulnerability and callow lack of sophistication of the young men.

7.7

American Reflexxx

Apr 7, 2015

American Reflexxx is a short film documenting a social experiment that took place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Alli Coates filmed performance artist Signe Pierce as she strutted down a busy oceanside street in stripper garb and a reflective mask. The pair agreed not to communicate until the experiment was completed, but never anticipated the horror that would unfold in under an hour. The result is a heart wrenching technicolor spectacle that raises questions about gender stereotypes, mob mentality, and violence in America.

0.0

No Experience Necessary

Sep 23, 2000

An estimated half a million women are being transported to Western Europe by sex traffickers every year. It's a multi-million pound business where, for the traffickers, the rewards are high and the risks are low. But, for the girls, the consequences are brutal and potentially dangerous. Following a route which begins in the former Soviet Republic of Latvia and leads to Denmark, Ireland and the UK, Sue Lloyd-Roberts uncovers a murky, cruel world in which employment agencies seduce young women with false promises, unscrupulous pimps abuse them and the police and judiciary turn a blind eye to this contemporary form of slavery.

5.0

Demonic

Oct 14, 2018

During the 1980s, claims of satanic ritual abuse ran rife throughout the western world, uncovered by hypnotic therapists and perpetuated throughout the media, including high-rating television talk shows. In Demonic, filmmaker Pia Borg delves into this bizarre chapter of history, examining the elusive line between fact, fiction and the persuasive power of the media.

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0.0

Beating Justice: The Martin Lee Anderson Story

Jan 1, 2011

Uncovers the system of abuse and denial that killed a 14-year-old boy in a Florida Boot Camp.

0.0

Dream

Oct 13, 2022

A short documentary examining the consequence of time within the fragility of memory, exposing a sense of self, trapped within materiality and fantasy. We observe Chrystalla in her safe place, her home, reflecting on her childhood, her successful beauty business in 70s Cyprus and her deeply troubled marriage. Loneliness, abandonment and regret are prevailing themes within cycles of reflection, jest and contradiction.

0.0

Groomed: A National Scandal

Apr 30, 2025

Five young women who survived unimaginable abuse and rape tell their stories of a gang grooming spanning 20 years. Failures of police and social services continue to this day.

0.0

Beaten by My Boyfriend

Mar 25, 2015

Stacey Dooley goes behind closed doors and speaks to the now younger face of domestic violence. She questions victims and abusers to try and understand how deep the issues surrounding domestic abuse are for those who have survived and those currently experiencing the abuse.

0.0

Sylvie's Story

Jan 1, 1986

This short film recreates the experience of Sylvie, a battered woman who seeks shelter in a Montréal transition house. Faced with the threat of violence, loneliness, the lack of financial resources or information about services, the victim is often understandably reluctant to seek help. Emphasizing the importance for women of speaking out, the film also points out the role of the transition house in putting victims of abuse in touch with appropriate legal and social services.

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0.0

Ma fille n'est pas à vendre

Feb 20, 2017

No overview available.

7.2

Cyber Hell: Exposing an Internet Horror

May 17, 2022

Anonymous and exploitative, a network of online chat rooms ran rampant with sex crimes. The hunt to take down its operators required guts and tenacity.

2.0

All inclusive love

Aug 27, 2024

What started for fifteen-year-old Manon as a secret holiday romance at an all-inclusive resort, slowly turned into a memory that she looks back on with less pleasure. She fell in love with Hugo, the big star of the animation team. He wrapped her up with beautiful words, that she was special to him. Although Hugo was much older than Manon, he still had sex with her. At first it felt good, but slowly it turned into a memory that she would rather not think about anymore. What happened during that holiday and how could it have happened? She goes looking for answers and comes face to face with Hugo.

The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool

Overview

Genres

Production Companies

The Abercrombie Guys: The Dark Side of Cool Trailers