@HoneyWest said:

Not knowing anything about this film I was a bit hesitant based on the description but found it extremely riveting. Now ava on HBO...

Possible Spoilers

I came to the conclusion that it is a bizarre uncovering of the worlds oddest internet troll. A man who claims to hate gays, while making very homoerotic tickling videos, distributing them all over the web and then humiliating the participants and anyone else that questions him. There is no apparent profit motivation... it seems to be done purely for his own entertainment... I don't even think he really cares about tickling, or gets off on it. I think what enjoys is humiliating these tough, athletic young men... maybe the type of guys that bullied hime (according to his Step Mom) when he was his kid.

Wow, you hit the nail on the head! I know the filmmakers touch on his obsession with power and control, but they didn't make the connection between the type of men D'Amato cast for his videos and the type of boys who may have bullied him when he was younger. Well done.

I've read some criticisms of this doc saying it's one-sided and exploitative of D'Amato, etc. but I do feel the filmmakers tried to show his humanity, especially in the final few minutes. He was clearly a sad, frustrated, angry little person, and most likely a closeted gay man.