Mister Organ Review | The Ugly Organ

Steeped in paranoia and psychological intrigue, the documentary Mister Organ attempts to explore the banality of evil, and viewers’ skins will crawl when they see what’s looking back at them from the screen. The latest film from journalist, podcaster, and filmmaker David Farrier, Mister Organ finds the person responsible for the similarly toned documentary Tickled and limited series Dark Tourist once again exploring a “quirky” story and discovering something far more sinister than they expected going in. It’s a work that speaks to Farrier’s strengths as a storyteller and journalist; purposefully sticky, bleakly humorous, and elusive when it comes to answering a lot of existential questions about humanity’s dark side.

It all starts with a seemingly routine investigation for Farrier, one that he, at first,  lovingly describes as “my kind of weird mess,” but will quickly come to regret taking on. An antique shop in a well-to-do part of the Auckland, New Zealand area, where Farrier is from, has taken to booting and fining drivers who park in front of the business after hours. The response from the person doing the clamping and the shop’s owner is alarmingly reactionary and expensive, but it’s difficult to see why the exorbitant fines and psychological abuse unlikely drivers suffer is so brutal. When Farrier beings investigating and publishing articles about his findings, he’s put into the orbit of Michael Organ, the man doing the booting, fining, and boxing in of drivers. Organ (who spells his name differently all the time) is an enigmatic, highly litigious, frightening figure that few people Farrier approaches want to talk about; a pathological liar and weaver of tall tales who leaves a trail of psychological pain and suffering in his wake. Organ does everything to place himself firmly in control of Farrier’s documentary about him, sometimes appearing helpful, jovial, jocular, and forthcoming, and sometimes calling at random times to rant and one-sidedly berate the journalist. The relationship between the two frequently crosses unspoken lines, and makes Farrier question why he’s doing any of this in the first place.

As a film, Mister Organ is kind of a mess that can’t follow a straight path to some sort of suitable conclusion, and it’s a detriment that Farrier would likely agree with. How does one make a movie about a person that’s purposefully elusive, brusque, and obfuscating? In their conversation, Organ speaks with a great deal of confidence and candour, until one realizes that he’s not saying anything at all; a person who constantly takes, but gives nothing of substance back in return. He’s clearly guilty of something, but exactly what is always unverifiable, not just because Organ refuses to give a straightforward answer, but because it’s apparent that everyone from his past – especially former flatmates (one of whom describes living with him as “high velocity hell”) – are terrified of the guy. The deeper Farrier’s involvement with Organ becomes, the more he’s placed into a similarly cornered mindset.

Eventually, Mister Organ moves away from being an expose of a criminal mastermind, and more towards an examination of journalism itself. Organ’s increased and aggressive insertion into Farrier’s daily life is terrifying to behold, but Farrier – a cool customer with thick skin and a good sense of humour – has the journalist’s instinct to keep going after a story. Farrier is willing to double down and go further down a rabbit hole whenever people tell him to let something go or walk away. That’s what a journalist does. If you tell them to look the other way, they’re going to come back with a microscope and a lot of newfound free time. But what happens when the person being investigated is also willing to double down to even greater degrees? Organ and Farrier aren’t friends, family, or roommates, so the reporter can ask plenty of pointed questions without any real emotional attachment, but what happens when a subject is able to get their hooks so deeply into the journalist that emotions become unavoidable?

As a character study of a dangerous person with no definable or distinct personality of their own, Mister Organ goes as deep as it possibly can given the information provided. But the more fascinating arc is the one Farrier is travelling along. He’s constantly having to ask if all of this prying is worth it. The answer is yes because there’s clearly something foul afoot, but what’s the cost to his psyche? What does one do when the subject doesn’t let go of the documentarian? How does one get an edge over a person who lives for pushing people over emotional cliffs? How deep do you go? How long do you devote to the topic without going mad, and are you being manipulated into taking more time than necessary? None of these questions have concrete responses, but the most fascinating and elusive question might be wondering just how many answers someone needs to feel closure.

Mister Organ is a chilling work that will have viewers cautiously looking over their shoulders and screening their phone calls after leaving the theatre. It will also make people cautiously reconsider past relationships with people exhibiting similar personality traits, and whether or not putting up a fight against someone is preferable to simply walking away for one’s own sanity. It’s dark territory, but then again, any film revolving around such subject matter ought to be.

Mister Organ is now playing in select cities, and expands on Friday, October 13, 2023 to additional theatres, including the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema in Toronto and the Rio Theatre in Vancouver. David Farrier will participate in virtual Q&As following the 6:20pm screening at The Rio on October 13 and the 7:15 screening on Sunday, October 15 at Hot Docs.