You've probably heard of Tough Mudder, Spartan Race, Warrior Dash, or one of the other brands building military-style obstacle courses around the world. Mud is big business, with millions of people paying upwards of $200 to suffer through ice, fire, electricity, barbed wire, teargas and more.
And the half billion dollar question is... WHY?!
Rise of the Sufferfests is the first feature documentary about the global obstacle course race craze. It explores the history of the sport, psychology behind it and asks WTF it says about the world we're living in.
Narcissism? Masculinity crisis? Fitness fad? Loneliness in the digital age?
To help shed light on the phenomenon, journalist Scott Keneally enlists a motley crew of athletes and insiders from the cultish community, as well as a broad range of notable experts – including Morgan Spurlock, Laird Hamilton, Tim Ferriss, Hanna Rosin, AJ Jacobs and Dr. Jean Twenge. The self-proclaimed "beta-male" also dives deep into the crucible, tackling some of the world’s most brutal sufferfests.
Far from just a movie about mud, it’s a film about modern life, and the personal journey of a “just-enougher” to embrace the suck and steel up in the face of fatherhood.
The film will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker and featured talking head/Atlanta native, Matt B. Davis of Obstacle Racing Media.