Mister Organ (2022)

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.

Framed and delivered as a horror-mystery film, Mister Organ is a fresh take on documentaries. I’ve seen documentaries about horror films, and I’ve seen horror films about mysterious subjects–but I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen a documentary that is created in the same fashion as Mister Organ. The film quickly establishes an eerie, uncomfortable tone that alerts viewers and allows them to understand that the things soon to follow will be heavy and hard-hitting.

Organ is presented to viewers in a way that shines a very dark and unappealing light on him–almost painting him like a monster. Mister Organ, with that, does what every good horror film does: hide the monster and force viewers to think the worst. Early in the film Organ makes his way on screen from time to time, but the reality is that he often remains behind the scenes, out of sight, and that creates something horrific and enticing. With him often being off somewhere, potentially doing one of his dirty deeds, viewers are able to picture him in any way that their mind sees fit (of course, with some ushering from Farrier and his team), and that makes the film even better. Mister Organ, while just as frantic in nature as Organ himself, follows a very linear path–and as the film progresses, the veritable monster finds himself becoming more and more prominent. Every instance of the film that includes Organ makes sense, and it helps to tell Farrier’s story.

Sometimes a dedication to your craft can make your project more appealing to viewers (or listeners), and that’s sort of what happens here with Farrier’s Mister Organ. There are many instances throughout the course of the film in which it becomes clear that Farrier has had his fill, that he’s struggling to move forward–but he remains dedicated to this film. As he pours his heart and soul into the film, I think he knows how apparent it will be to viewers, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he intended to use this as a vehicle for viewers to appreciate his film. Mister Organ showcases everything that Farrier did for months, and that helps develop another layer to the film, and provides viewers another reason to appreciate what he has done.

If you like drama and conflict, Mister Organ is full of it, and much like the rest of the film, Farrier finds ways to develop this aspect of a film that will certainly appeal to viewers. There are so many layers to this documentary. Viewers get horror, mystery, and drama–and everything plays out in a beautifully linear fashion that allows viewers to fall in love with it and become almost incapable of peeling their eyes away from the screen. Mister Organ is a brilliant documentary that shifts what many likely believe documentaries are capable of doing–and with Farrier in charge, there’s little doubt as to why the film finds success.

Directed by David Farrier.

Starring David Farrier, Michael Organ, Jillian Bashford-Evans, etc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10