Documentary filmmaking rarely crosses the boundary from investigative journalism directly into the realm of psychological horror. David Farrier achieves precisely that with his feature, Mister Organ, centering on an Auckland man whose campaign of intimidation and gaslighting left a trail of traumatized victims in his wake.
The project began modestly when Farrier started reporting on Bashford Antiques, an Auckland storefront that deployed aggressive vehicle-clamping tactics and levied exorbitant fees against unsuspecting drivers. That initial journalistic piece for The Spinoff eventually prompted government officials to introduce legislation outlawing extreme parking clamping fees. However, investigating the business introduced Farrier to Michael Organ, a bizarre figure acting as the shop's parking enforcer.
As the reporting continued, Organ morphed from a local nuisance into something far more alarming. Investigators and former acquaintances revealed a history of elaborate scams, including a prior attempt to steal a yacht alongside fraudulent claims of holding titles as a prince and a lawyer. The tension escalates dramatically when Organ manages to secure a key to Farrier's personal residence, issuing a vague warning that ultimately drove the journalist to leave the country temporarily for his own safety.
Mister Organ captures a rare kind of domestic terror driven entirely through manipulation rather than graphic violence. Viewers looking to stream the film can currently find it available on platforms including Hoopla, Kanopy, and YouTube.
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