Mister Organ

source: Mister Organ

On the surface it's another interesting Farrier doco about a very weird person who gets their jollies from manipulating people. But as the film goes on, and you start to comprehend the nefarious and vindictive nature of what is happening, it becomes a deep insight into how utterly cooked it is that we don't have any means to protect people from the Mr Organ's of the world. We hear a lot about violence in relationships in New Zealand, but this is the first time I've seen a documentary capture the destructiveness of the emotional/psychological abuse that people are forced to endure at the hands of abusers. The people who have chosen to tell their stories are incredibly brave - and I hope they never have to feel alone standing against this truly vile character. It's a wild ride, its very funny in parts... and its the most chilling insight into coercive and controlling people I've seen.

I honestly don't have much to say other than, seeing something like this in my own backyard is very telling of the legal and societal parameters that allow for people like this to succeed in this country. The fact that David Farrier stands a better chance at dismantling a mega-Church than one man in Whanganui does also says something. It's funny, terrible, sad, exploitative in moments, very well put together and full of heavy dread. If you don't live in a country as small as ours I forgive you for not seeing what's to worry about when there's people like this that scurry around. Watch it! Free Jillian!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10 2023 OVERLOOK FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! Born and raised in New Zealand, this is the place that David Farrier calls home. When he becomes aware of a horrible practice taking place in Ponsonby, Auckland, (what he calls the Beverly Hills of New Zealand) he feels that it's his job as a journalist to take action. An antique shop owner and a mysterious man named Michael Organ are tricking and forcing shoppers to pay hundreds of dollars to park for only thirty minutes. Mister Organ is not an easy person to find, and he's even more difficult to get through to, but Farrier is determined to make change. [more...] Please check out my full review of David Farrier's Mister Organ, and my other reviews, by heading to my site, Bain's Film Reviews. Don't forget to subscribe!

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!

As the movie slowly progressed, in my waking moments I thought Mr Organ was in fact Ricky Gervais and we are all being duped (conspiracy theory was better than the film and there was definitely a likeness in looks and mannerisms). For 5 years journalism we have a film with numerous people saying 'dont cross him' ' poisonous', 'plays with your mind' and virtually nothing to back this up. And why is there surprise that Mr Organ doesn't want to be filmed all the time for a documentary that is not going to be complimentary, would you? The best bit was googling before hand "how long does Mr Organ last" and instantly regretting it!!

Like watching a firework that feezels out, after the fuse burns out you sit there waiting and waiting for an explosion that never comes. This film starts with an interesting premise but nothing comes of it. Hints of twists and horrors that never take you to any place new or satisfying. The central character is painted up as this horrible human but the more you learn he isn't likeable but no where near evil as the film maker wants you to believe. As for the film maker he seems to want to be desperately likeable but his actions speak of a person quite comfortable at exploiting people for his own benefit with little regard of the effects on other people, example being the family members of Mr Organ who seem innocent but the film maker put them in the film against their requests.

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!

source: Mister Organ