Film Review: Tickled (MA15+) (NZ, 2016) is documentary work at its finest

Seemingly about the fun, bizarre world of an adult sub-culture called ‘Competitive Endurance Tickling’, comes a documentary that takes fast steps sideways, trips down some steep, morbidly dark stairs and leads viewers into the world of abuse, identity theft and cyber bullying. Like so many great documentaries before it, you walk away from Tickled wanting – NO, needing – someone to pay for their actions.

Tickled is the feature length documentary created by journalists David Farrier and Dylan Reeve. Just by the ‘easy on the eye’ poster, one could think it was going to be a tour through a crazy sport no one had heard of. Possibly a film about happiness, or a culture in which it’s OK to get touchy with each one another. All reminding me of a TV series documentary made by Dawn O’Porter, called Extreme Wife (if you haven’t checked it out, you should). Or you could expect something with a little more about fetishes or a world of bondage. But I was way off track, or at least on the side of one.

David Farrier & Dylan Reeve
David Farrier & Dylan Reeve
Tickled starts off when journalist and co-director David Farrier, looking for a new story to tell, starts sifting through videos on Vimeo, stumbles upon an innocent looking video about a competition called ‘Competitive Endurance Tickling’.  It immediately has Ferrier amused and intrigued by this crazy new world he had stumbled upon. What a great story this could tell… a world of tickling for sport.
Tied down and tickled
Tied down and tickled

So, David and his mate (Co-Director) Dylan Reeve almost immediately contact the related Facebook page of Jane O’Brien Media, who seem to be behind the event, with this post: “Hi there – is anyone on here that’s competed a New Zealander? I want to talk to you. DM me please”.

The response I then heard was simply jaw dropping. Completely and suddenly, turning this documentary and my intrigue, well above normal levels. The so-called Jane O’Brien media response was:

“So far, about 5 New Zealanders have participated. But to be brutally frank, association with a homosexual journalist is not something that I will embrace. We desperately do not want a homosexual participant base applying for this project. My concern is your “journalistic style, reputation, and fan base” in your own country. This is offered in earnest and strictly professional”.

Silent and shocked for at least 15 seconds, the viewer and David are left speechless. David Farrier replies simply with this: “Sorry to hear you don’t want to be associated with homosexual journalists”.

And with this, the adventure begins, as David and Dylan keep digging to get to the bottom of this: what it was all about and why this agency was so quick to attack in such a way that would make anyone else run the other way?

The Tickle room
The Tickle room

Tickled takes on the single camera format of film-making for most of the feature, having someone follow and film either David and Dylan or both. There is nothing here that changes the way we look at how documentaries can be filmed, but the gritty, shaky-camera style works with the investigative journalism really well. It makes the whole trip more personal as a viewer.

There are moments where I was completely uncomfortable with what I was viewing, but documentaries wouldn’t be gripping if they didn’t make you change your perceptions once in a while. The one-on-one meetings with tickle enthusiasts, watching someone being tied down to a chair to be tickled themselves. Something so innocent, turned into someone else’s viewing pleasure. It never quite steers towards being sexual, but the idea of another man sitting on top of me, while being tied down, just to be tickled? While I am sure it’s fine for a few, it’s not on my current to do list.

As the film continues, we delve into videos, letters, photos and documents that show just how far someone is willing to go to get what they want. The film seems to stumble and trip at times, but into the most amazing coincidences (or is it skill on Farriers behalf?) in their investigative journalism and into why this company, these people, are trying to shut them down. Threatening the lives and families of anyone who gets in their way. What sinister things are they hiding? Why not be open about the subject matter and let everyone see it? It’s the kind of questions a viewer wants to sit and watch and wait for answers. Immersive journalism at it’s finest.

Watch this clip which shows you some fast and fierce legal action the film’s subject threatens with, just because this documentary was being made.

To go into too much more detail would spoil exactly what this documentary sets out to achieve: shock and awe. The dark turns that David Farrier and Dylan Reeve continue to turn, not only cements this style of film-making as honest, back-to-roots journalism, but also places it as one of the must-watch documentaries of our time, alongside such greats as Catfish and Bowling For Columbine.

A well made poster sets the Tone
A well made poster sets the Tone

This is intense film-making. But if you have the least bit of interest into copyright and your rights and privacy being abused, or the fear of your children being used, then Tickled needs to be seen. This is one of the finest and most original documentaries to ever be released.

Review Score: FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)

Tickled releases in select cinemas from August 18th

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