Mister Organ

Now here's a curious proposition, as the hunter becomes hunted and put in awkward position, in pursuit of an oddball, he's then setup to take a fall, although it's not the most engaging documentary supposition. Perhaps the maker has ambition to become Kiwi Theroux, perhaps there's little going on in far off land that live so few, but the editing is stilted, the story rather wilted, I guess if you were in his place it might make good debut. Sadly nothing is presented that engages or connects, there are crazy folk in all corners that work with great effect, they control, manipulate - navigate as they predate, leaving damage, decay, destruction and misery in their wake.

"Mister Organ" isn't just a documentary, it's a slow-motion train wreck you can't tear your eyes from. Director David Farrier sets out to investigate claims of an online troll named Michael Organ, a self-proclaimed "reputation assassin" with a penchant for manipulation and mayhem. What he stumbles into is a rabbit hole of lies, gaslighting, and psychological mind games that will leave you equal parts aghast and fascinated.

Farrier's on-screen journey is the film's driving force. His initial naivety, slowly morphing into disbelief and anger, mirrors the audience's own emotional arc. We laugh at Organ's absurdity, wince at his cruelty, and ultimately find ourselves questioning: would we have fallen for his act too?

"Mister Organ" is a masterclass in suspense, building upon each revelation like a Hitchcock thriller. The film masterfully blends humor and horror, leaving you in a constant state of nervous anticipation. You know you shouldn't be enjoying Organ's antics, but there's a morbid curiosity that keeps you glued to the screen.

Beyond the sheer entertainment value, "Mister Organ" offers a chilling peek into the dark corners of the internet and the depths of human manipulation. It's a cautionary tale about the dangers of online anonymity and the ease with which our own perceptions can be distorted.

But the film's true strength lies in its portrait of resilience. The victims of Organ's abuse, who share their stories with raw honesty and courage, remind us of the human spirit's ability to overcome. Their voices serve as a powerful counterpoint to Organ's narcissistic ramblings, ultimately reaffirming the importance of truth and justice.

"Mister Organ" is not for the faint of heart. It's a wild ride that will leave you feeling drained, disturbed, and oddly exhilarated. But if you're seeking a gripping, thought-provoking documentary that dares to push boundaries and explore the darkest corners of human nature, then look no further. Just buckle up, because you're in for one hell of a ride.

The feeling of watching this in a relatively small but jam-packed kiwi cinema was absolutely fantastic.

Everyone laughing and gasping along at this funny, horrifying, distressing and impactful film.

If you can see it in a full theatre, absolutely do so.

There were parts of the movie where my partner and I gripped each other in horror. My stomach sunk at parts and a few minutes later I was cackling merrily.

David Farrier clearly put a lot of himself on the line for this movie and put himself in the sights of a very scary individual and the results are something he can be proud of.

This is a brilliant piece of cinema and a stunning showcase of journalism.

Holy crap, I went into this the same way I went into David Farrier's other documentary Tickled...without knowing much at all about it. And I was again in awe by the end of it.

In parts I was cackling so hard (the whole cinema was). In other parts I gasped so loudly. In others I felt dread. I felt scared, sad, bewilderment. Basically anything and everything you can feel.

The subject of this documentary is just plain impossible to explain. We saw David trying to explain him and he couldn't either. But he's narcissistic, manipulative and downright strange. He's also the most boring hilarious person in the world. All of this combined made for a very interesting story with lots of little twists and turns.

I don't know how David finds these people but he manages to make the most insightful documentaries while putting himself in danger, and I commend him for that!

I can't wait for his next movie!

I remember liking Tickled many years ago, but Mister Organ I thought was even better as a documentary, and I think it's shown David Farrier to be more than just a one-trick pony (though it does have the same kind of mix of suspense, intrigue, and tension that Tickled had, just stronger).

It starts a little too chaotically for my liking, but after about 10 or 15 minutes it settles into a groove and starts feeling baffling in the right kind of way. Maybe some of the opening scenes were supposed to get your head spinning right away, but I think I would've liked a slightly more patient build-up to the central premise. But once it does get underway, Mister Organ is fascinating, even when the director admits that he doesn't know where anything's going or how he can even end the documentary he set out to make.

It's an exploration of a very unusual and rather terrifying individual, and the way it functions as a character study of this man makes Mister Organ feel more intense than a good many genuine thrillers. It's the kind of movie where I feel a little worried even saying anything about it, due to the man at its center. I doubt he'd ever read this, but I still don't want to speculate on the man beyond what's presented in this documentary; partly out of fear, but also partly because this is the kind of film that should be watched without knowing much about it in advance. I went in thinking it was going to be about organ transplants in some way, and no... it wasn't that at all.

It's on Netflix currently in Australia, and I only shout out the streaming service because this is one of the few documentaries on there that's genuinely great, straight-to-the-point, and keen to tell its story in just 90-ish minutes. Certain documentaries need longer runtimes, but most documentaries on Netflix don't, and are needlessly padded out to be told in three to four-hour miniseries rather than 90 to 120-minute movies (a big reason why I just stopped watching most documentaries on the platform, be they hosted on there or produced by Netflix itself). Anyway, Mister Organ's one of the good ones currently on Aus Netflix, and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys unusual and captivating documentary filmmaking.