Louis has gained access to Coalinga Mental Hospital in California, which houses more than 500 of the most disturbed criminals in America, convicted paedophiles. Most have already served lengthy prison sentences, but have been deemed unsafe for release. Instead, they have been sent here for an indefinite time. Spending time with those undergoing treatment, Louis wrestles with whether he can ever allow himself to believe men whose whole history is defined by deception and deceit.
Related Documentaries:
September 22, 2010 at 6:14 am | Geena
The sound on this thing just cuts out at around 11:12 or so, or is it just my PC?
November 1, 2010 at 6:47 am | resize image html
Incredible highlights for upload files for having me personally get going. Most definitely i’ll keep this particular website link and get back to it.
December 31, 2010 at 3:44 am | Tyler
Louis, don’t drink something from someone who just told you he was a date raper!
July 15, 2011 at 2:30 am | Guest
Hahaha, good point; that didn’t even occur to me.
January 6, 2011 at 10:51 am | Karma
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January 10, 2011 at 4:01 am | Alyssa
this is the first documentary from Louis Theroux I’ve seen but he seems to be clumsy and blurt things out a few times too often.
March 5, 2011 at 11:22 pm | mickey
i agree he is really annoying… ross kemp is the cool vrsion of this guy
June 11, 2011 at 2:06 am | whitemencantjump
That is Louis Theroux’s stlye. He asks straight up questions in a blunt manner. He doesn’t skirt around the issues that he makes films about.
February 11, 2011 at 5:18 pm | None
I didn’t like this documentary. It is interesting and eye opening but Louis Theroux does such a poor job. His language he uses and the questions he asks are obnoxious, way too blunt/forward and borderline offensive. Even though he’s interviewing child molesters and rapists a documentary filmmaker still needs to treat the subjects with respect. Because he doesn’t do this it undermines his professionalism. Overall he created a film that I felt awkward and uncomfortable watching.
March 5, 2011 at 11:48 pm | mickey
the thing that annoy’s me the most about louis theroux is that he enter’s these peoples worlds and passes judgment on them with absolutely 0 empathy or understanding. these people made some incredibly stupid and impulsive decisions and are consequently doing the time. the’re lives are total shit but still louis feels the need to stick his nose in and ask stupid questions that semi-intelligent people already know the answer to. i would like to see louis go through that bull-shit therapy program for a few months from a patients perspective than see what kind of questions he asks.
check out ross kemp he’s way more informative and fun to watch
May 18, 2011 at 2:02 pm | guest
empathy for peadophiles? All i can say is what a dickhead you are.
May 24, 2011 at 6:13 pm | Wewewe
Ross Kemp? Fucking zippy more like, he talks absolute shite
May 24, 2011 at 6:13 pm | Wewewe
Ross Kemp? Fucking zippy more like, he talks absolute shite
July 27, 2011 at 1:54 pm | dj
I don’t get your point our your perspective. I don’t think Louis is like this at all. His appeal is that he walks in and gives people the respect of a straight question and what seems to be minimal editing to their answer. He tries to contact the human in the most extreme personality which converts them from a cardboard cut out monster to a complex individual with elements that reside in all of us. He is not always successful, and his approach is a little disingenuous at times but his stuff is popular for a reason.
September 11, 2011 at 6:42 pm | Anonon
Stupid and impulsive. Some of these animals raped 6 year old. No I will not have any empathy. It it is not stupid or impulsive it’s abhorent and evil
September 11, 2011 at 6:42 pm | Anonon
Stupid and impulsive. Some of these animals raped 6 year old. No I will not have any empathy. It it is not stupid or impulsive it’s abhorent and evil
May 29, 2011 at 8:49 pm | Sanjuro222
So according to you, he must skirt around the issues and be completely nice and accepting of them without question. Remember that many of them are not even willing to put themselves forward for therapy. That in my opinion is a little bit suspect because anybody in their position should want to help themselves rather find a lawyer to exploit the loopholes to get them out. Louis asks the questions that the rest of the world is thinking, are these people really rehabilitated or are they just putting on an act for the social services and for themselves? It is interesting question though. Can you really rehabilitate somebody’s sexual preference?
March 3, 2011 at 9:39 pm | Lefty
I’ve seen a bunch of Louie’s work now, and, at first when he’d be so seemingly naive, I put it down to shoddy and clumsy workmanship. However, now after several, that becomes the appeal – his almost childlike ability to cut thru an impossible, highly dramatic, or just downright queasy situation BECOMES the reason for watching. He doesn’t dress anything up, he injects his ow opinionn, which is typically the most accepted view. Especially when dealing with SUCH volatile subjects, where the worlds he’s investigating and documenting have huge tendancy to polarize the Western World, and there is a general consensus of horror, shock, and disgust for said subjects…
October 16, 2011 at 12:25 pm | barnzlow
thats the art of a documentary
October 16, 2011 at 12:25 pm | barnzlow
thats the art of a documentary
March 29, 2011 at 3:02 pm | Ghost Ash
Louis Theroux is amazing.
March 29, 2011 at 3:02 pm | Ghost Ash
Louis Theroux is amazing.
March 29, 2011 at 3:02 pm | Ghost Ash
Louis Theroux is amazing.
May 29, 2011 at 9:15 pm | Sanjuro222
I think the real punishment is being locked in with that psychobabbling psychologist, she talks so much rubbish and is not in touch with reality.
June 19, 2011 at 5:08 pm | Broumf
Wow Sanjuro, I feel a lot of negative energy in your comments. Do you want, maybe… to… take a couple of deep breaths?
June 19, 2011 at 6:09 pm | Broumf
She must have had problems to find a neighbourhood where people would accept her to live, too…
June 19, 2011 at 6:09 pm | Broumf
She must have had problems to find a neighbourhood where people would accept her to live, too…
September 21, 2011 at 7:31 pm | Psychologist
I think what you’ve just said is a form of abuse and although I’m accepting of it I’m not sure whether the wider community will be as sympathetic.
September 21, 2011 at 7:31 pm | Psychologist
I think what you’ve just said is a form of abuse and although I’m accepting of it I’m not sure whether the wider community will be as sympathetic.
October 30, 2011 at 5:56 pm | Yo
I agree. There is nothing psychologically wrong with purposely excluding someone you don’t like from a conversation. It happens all the time and too bad she doesn’t like it, just the way it is.
May 29, 2011 at 9:15 pm | Sanjuro222
I think the real punishment is being locked in with that psychobabbling psychologist, she talks so much rubbish and is not in touch with reality.
June 2, 2011 at 11:05 am | Guest
Wow. There is so much to say after watching something like this. There is such a large part of you that viscerally reacts to the abhorrent crimes of these men, that seethes at the thought of the victim’s pain.
Yet, personally, I also feel that “warehousing” these men may also be a miscarriage of justice. Yes, what they did was horrible and inexcusable. And yes, they should be punished – throw the book at them. But, they have been punished. They have served their time. And now they’re futures depend on the opinions of a few psychologists, absent judicial avenues that is.
As someone who has worked with the psychiatric field, I personally know the failings of public mental health systems. Especially one that seems to impose such a sweeping litmus test for what is “normal.” In such a situation, a person would be more likely to be released back into society after serving a sentence for a second degree murder charge, than a date rape conviction. I feel like the counselor at the end summed it up well when he said that it is violating these men’s constitutional rights.
There is no easy answer… but this surely does not appear to be it.
June 2, 2011 at 11:05 am | Guest
Wow. There is so much to say after watching something like this. There is such a large part of you that viscerally reacts to the abhorrent crimes of these men, that seethes at the thought of the victim’s pain.
Yet, personally, I also feel that “warehousing” these men may also be a miscarriage of justice. Yes, what they did was horrible and inexcusable. And yes, they should be punished – throw the book at them. But, they have been punished. They have served their time. And now they’re futures depend on the opinions of a few psychologists, absent judicial avenues that is.
As someone who has worked with the psychiatric field, I personally know the failings of public mental health systems. Especially one that seems to impose such a sweeping litmus test for what is “normal.” In such a situation, a person would be more likely to be released back into society after serving a sentence for a second degree murder charge, than a date rape conviction. I feel like the counselor at the end summed it up well when he said that it is violating these men’s constitutional rights.
There is no easy answer… but this surely does not appear to be it.
June 5, 2011 at 9:35 am | ArtistoftheWeek
I kind of feel that there should be a place for rapists too. Too bad they don’t treat rapists as a sub-human as they do to pedophiles.
June 5, 2011 at 9:35 am | ArtistoftheWeek
I kind of feel that there should be a place for rapists too. Too bad they don’t treat rapists as a sub-human as they do to pedophiles.
June 16, 2011 at 9:38 am | Zack Dean
Weird… they’re all intelligent, articulate, middle-aged white men and many of them have mustaches or beards. Seems to me like we’ve got a recipe for molestation!
September 21, 2011 at 7:40 pm | Dean Learner
It’s so true! Ask someone to picture a paedophile in their mind and that’s what they would look like. They fit the stereotype.
September 21, 2011 at 7:40 pm | Dean Learner
It’s so true! Ask someone to picture a paedophile in their mind and that’s what they would look like. They fit the stereotype.
June 16, 2011 at 9:56 am | Zack Dean
The guy that was making punch made some legitimate points. Objectively, what’s going on in there is wrong. It goes against everything our justice system is supposed to stand for. These guys are in such a strange limbo where they are being treated unjustly, yet no one on the outside would dare stand up in defense of people who have done what they’ve done. We can dislike these people as much as we want, but they deserve justice just as much as you or I would want justice if we committed a crime. The alternative is allowing justice to be suspended indefinitely whenever opinion sways that way.
July 13, 2011 at 6:03 am | No
What Louis seems to be missing, and what should be the message of this documentary, is thought is not a crime no matter what.
July 13, 2011 at 6:03 am | No
What Louis seems to be missing, and what should be the message of this documentary, is thought is not a crime no matter what.
July 15, 2011 at 2:28 am | Guest
I agree with the intentions of the law, but I don’t agree with the law itself. Furthermore, I strongly question the methodology of these clinicians. Really? Suppress sexual stimuli in order to “cure” sexual urges? Christian fundies have tried that with gay people, and it doesn’t work. And no, I’m not equating gay people with child molesters; of course not. As far as desire goes though, it’s the same principle. And I ultimately see two solutions here. Do as Mr. Lamb did and get yourself castrated, chemically or surgically (and good for him, I say), or recognize that you have a sexual problem that presents a danger to others and find an outlet, and I seriously doubt the outlet is going to be non-sexual (though it’s possible for some people, maybe). If they’re masturbating to a Sears catalog or a painting of a ballet dancer, good! Just don’t rape the kids. I know a lot of people will consider this last part controversial, but just think about it. The problem is the ACT of child molestation, but these therapists are trying to treat it as a thought crime by trying to limit masturbation or suggestive images, and they WILL fail.
December 18, 2011 at 2:27 am | srynznfyra
I absolutely agree with everything you just said there. Paedophilia is nothing more than a fetish, and practically all of us know that there is no “cure” for them, as they are “diseases” of a very different kind from any other. Child porn that doesn’t involve real children is great (e.g. anime), in order to prevent any real children from being harmed, by satisfying the urges of paedophiles. People need to get that into their thick skulls before uttering cries of hate. The issue here is plainly summed up by the fact that no one chooses to be a paedophile. And no, I am not one myself, but I know what a fetish is.
February 13, 2012 at 2:44 pm | Mintzworks
I didn’t see where the therapists/clinicians were trying to suppress sexual stimuli. That’s just what one guy said he was doing in the group session, and we didn’t get to see any response to that – clearly that isn’t going to be part of the offender treatment for all the reasons you just stated.
Personally, if the one guy wants to whack it to the ballet painting, I’m fine with that – as long as no one gets hurt or abused (and no actual photos of children are taken).
July 17, 2011 at 6:24 am | Coalmore
I found this very disturbing and uncomfortable =/
July 17, 2011 at 6:28 am | Coalmore
And I HATE that they are using Joanna Newsom as part of the soundtrack….
July 20, 2011 at 1:50 pm | Double Thumb Fist
Despite myself, I feel sorry for these guys. It seems to me that unlike any other system I am familiar with this one is unfair. Is this worse than their offenses? No. But I still find thw whole business wrong.
July 21, 2011 at 9:00 pm | Misslbd
think I am going to vomit. Some guy says Oh now I “realize kids grow up” to be real people” you got be fecking joking in fairness. Deluding themselves they can change. I only think people who are abused as kids and are messed up can be helped the rest are just sexual deviants.
July 22, 2011 at 4:04 am | chesed
the name itself sounds like a sexual act lol
July 22, 2011 at 4:04 am | chesed
the name itself sounds like a sexual act lol
February 13, 2012 at 10:11 am | Anonymous
I’ve lived in Coalinga my whole life and its not that bad. And I mean the actual town of Coalinga that the hospital is located at. Not the hospital itself.
July 27, 2011 at 9:26 am | Lou
the song at 24 minutes in is Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix for anybody that was wandering
July 27, 2011 at 3:16 pm | dj
The fundamental problem with this warehousing approach is that the State is having it both ways. They were sane enough to be tried and sent to prison for years, but now that prison sentence is ended suddenly they are insane and have to go to hospital. This is really a political solution to a very hard problem. Like most other people I agree in the abstract that these people should, on the whole, be released now but not anywhere near my kids.
September 11, 2011 at 6:48 pm | Anonon
that is the problem with releasing them, since you don’t want them near your kids, I don’t want them near mine, i’m sure no one does and so where will you send them. So this is the best the govt has come up with
September 12, 2011 at 12:13 am | Anonymous
The prisons are run by corporations. They are paid mucho dinero by the government, charging per prison capita. Extend their stay, pass go-collect $100!
September 12, 2011 at 12:13 am | Anonymous
The prisons are run by corporations. They are paid mucho dinero by the government, charging per prison capita. Extend their stay, pass go-collect $100!
August 3, 2011 at 5:04 am | Vinny
Why do pedophiles have nicer housing than most American citizens? What kind of a joke is this??
February 13, 2012 at 8:39 am | Anonymous
Agreed. This hospital is located in the town I live in, and our high school doesn’t even have nice enough tables to write on. They’re so old and carved in that you if you were to try and write on it, you poke holes in your paper.
February 13, 2012 at 2:47 pm | Mintzworks
I can’t imagine they could think of anywhere else to put the thing – it had to be way out west and away from most of the bigger cities.
But there are two different points here – Coalinga HS deserves much better facilities, as do all public schools.
But since we’re warehousing most of these men just for potential public safety, they do deserve some form of decent accomodations. Remember, they’re technically not being punished anymore – just kept away from society.
February 13, 2012 at 8:25 pm | Anonymous
Yes but personally I feel that priorities of schools should be met before luxuries of these men.
August 3, 2011 at 5:04 am | Vinny
Why do pedophiles have nicer housing than most American citizens? What kind of a joke is this??
August 8, 2011 at 1:58 pm | Drow
Nurse Ratchet??
September 4, 2011 at 2:43 pm | vonvonic
Seriously reminded of ‘One Flew Over…” in the scene where the guy had to apologise to her. She seemed more deranged than him.
September 4, 2011 at 2:43 pm | vonvonic
Seriously reminded of ‘One Flew Over…” in the scene where the guy had to apologise to her. She seemed more deranged than him.
September 4, 2011 at 2:51 pm | Vonvonic
Very disturbing to hear them talking about ‘abstinence’. This implies that they are never really cured. Most alcoholics or drug addicts will relapse many times before they find the right balance… if ever. But at least they are a danger primarily to themselves.
With these guys, one relapse would be enough. The idea that they would be released and spend the rest of their lives in a state of abstinence is kinda creepy… And too much of a risk if you ask me…
Don’t know what the solution would be however. It really is a conundrum.
February 13, 2012 at 2:52 pm | Mintzworks
I don’t think abstinence is a goal here, neither for treatment nor for them to function in society.
The job of the offender is to become aware of their sexual leanings, aware of their fantasies, and hyper-aware of how their actions might hurt others. They’ve got to come to grips with their pain, their proclivities, and their childhood attachment to this type of sexual behavior.
Then they’ve got to accept that this is who they are, or were. The rest of it is just either avoiding the temptation or in some cases, realizing the success of their biological and sexual change – ie, they’re more healthy so they won’t be in a situation where impulse control is an issue, and they’re also keenly aware of that their potential is…and have learned to both cope with this and to remove themselves from potentially harmful situations.
September 21, 2011 at 7:39 am | OrangeHill
I feel that Louis goes to great lengths to present the idea that he is in fact disgusted with the crimes of these inmates himself, while at the same time appearing to be less disturbed than he puts on. This is only furthered by his own statements early in the film that individuals might be bothered by noncriminals interacting in respectful ways with the inmates. I have enjoyed several of Mr. Theroux’s films, however, feel this one is quite disingenuous and insincere.
September 22, 2011 at 6:49 pm | Anthony Tyler
There’s an incredible disconnect between the perp and the action(s). It’s disturbing quite honestly, but also a clear sign of brainwashing or manipulation of some sort…no?
September 26, 2011 at 12:15 am | A.
luis doesnt see them as human
October 4, 2011 at 10:16 pm | Tabitha
Who paid the 40 million dollars to build Coalinga, the government or a private corporation? Who pays the 200,000 a year to “house” these guys? Why don’t these individuals have to accept and participate in therapy? Wouldn’t money like this be better spent on schools and affordable health care? Is it me?
October 4, 2011 at 10:16 pm | Tabitha
Who paid the 40 million dollars to build Coalinga, the government or a private corporation? Who pays the 200,000 a year to “house” these guys? Why don’t these individuals have to accept and participate in therapy? Wouldn’t money like this be better spent on schools and affordable health care? Is it me?
February 13, 2012 at 10:01 am | Anonymous
Actually. Coalinga was built established in 1906 as a little coal mining town originally referred to as Coaling station A. Coalinga State Hospital however, is the place you’re referring to. Thats one thing that really bugged me, is he’s calling it Coalinga the whole time. Coalinga is the town! Jeeze… It makes me look like a child molester when I say I live in Coalinga.
October 5, 2011 at 3:36 am | Yemonde
i love louis’s face of disgust all the time…… keep these beasts out of our society…..
October 5, 2011 at 3:36 am | Yemonde
i love louis’s face of disgust all the time…… keep these beasts out of our society…..
October 5, 2011 at 4:06 am | Sieegg
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re all together ooky, LOL
October 5, 2011 at 4:06 am | Sieegg
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re all together ooky, LOL
October 5, 2011 at 4:06 am | Sieegg
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re all together ooky, LOL
October 5, 2011 at 4:06 am | Sieegg
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re all together ooky, LOL
October 5, 2011 at 4:06 am | Sieegg
They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re all together ooky, LOL
October 7, 2011 at 1:33 pm | Fap Masta Wong
I feel sorry for these guys being locked up for 15 years+ at a time i believe after that amount of time and therapy they have to be at least must not be attracted to children i wouldnt be if it got me into that much trouble jeeze
January 11, 2012 at 12:07 pm | Willog
do you feel sorry for the kids or the women who have to live with their actions for the rest of their lives waking up having nightmares every night some women can never trust a man again they destroyed families and lives. your being silly they have it handy in there they should never see the light of day.
October 13, 2011 at 1:20 pm | SeeHere
Louis has no understanding of the political….how he continues to work is beyond me.
October 21, 2011 at 6:31 am | Debbie
I don’t have a problem with most of these guys being warehoused for the rest of their lives. They are highly likely to re-offend.
February 13, 2012 at 2:54 pm | Mintzworks
I’d love to see a long-term study to see if the numbers of those released from Coalinga hospital and those who are not likely to re-offend are similar. I’ll bet they are. I have a feeling the hospital staff is very careful about who they recommend for discharge.
October 25, 2011 at 7:28 pm | Angie
Difficult and highly disturbing subject matter indeed. What these men have done is vile and incomprehensible, but as it happens i agree with what one of them alluded to when he said its not so much a mental health issue, and that mental health help won’t help, whats happened is criminal. and that it is, murderers i’m sure aren’t incarcerated after they’ve served their sentence into a warehouse to receive treatment that doesn’t determine whether they’ll ever get out. though at the same time i agree the majority of communities if not all would feel very uncomfortable to be at a close proximity to any or one of these men. From what i can see the state is thus trying to create a happy medium, however the blip in all of this is that human rights are inevitably affected. No-one can ever be satisfied. the question that remains i suppose is which is better universally? and perhaps the coalinger mental hospital is from a utalitarians point of view a form of doing the greatest good.
November 7, 2011 at 10:14 pm | Joshua Bailewy
No need for any left-wing ethics. Paedophiles of all forms are scum and should be dealt with before they deal with an innocent child.