Tickled

Tickled is a captivating documentary thriller that was released in 2016, co-directed by award-winning New Zealand journalists, David Farrier and Dylan Reeve. The movie stars Farrier, Reeve, and David Starr, a significant persona in the curious world the film unveils. The film tracks the duo's exploration into a curious and somewhat bizarre world hidden under the veil of the internet – a peculiar 'competitive endurance tickling'SPORT.

David Farrier, known for his focus on the odd, obscure, and intriguing phenomena of life, stumbles upon ‘competitive endurance tickling’ online videos by chance. Intrigued, he sets about to cover it as a light and quirky feature for his station back in New Zealand. However, what initially starts as a whimsical journey, quickly descends into a dark abyss of secrecy, deception, and corruption. The documentary transitions from a frivolous human-interest pursuit into an earnest investigation rooted in curiosity and the desire for truth.

David Starr is introduced as the elusive character associated with the strange sense of secrecy and intimidation surrounding competitive tickling videos. In his efforts to reveal the identities of those behind these videos, Farrier steps into a spider web of constructs and complexities far larger than he anticipated.

The narrative starts with an innocuous search on the internet but soon digresses into something out of a suspense-filled mystery movie. There is humor, but it is subtly overshadowed by the sinister reality unraveling before us. Each new revelation in the documentary Tickled is more menacing and fantastical than the previous, a characteristic that hooks the viewers and maintains peak engagement levels throughout the film.

What makes this documentary compelling is not just the story it tells but the way it's told. Farrier and Reeve happen upon an underworld that exploits young men under the guise of a 'sport.' It's not just the tickling competitions themselves that are strange and unsettling, but the dark system devised by calculating people who exploit their participants' vulnerability. The documentary's true crux is how the notion of power and American wealth can be manipulated to control and exploit young men in unassuming yet devastatingly powerful ways.

Farrier, a charismatic figure known for his humorous take on things, skillfully guides the audience through this labyrinth of deceit. He is simultaneously honest, purposeful, and humorous, bringing gravitas to the surreal narrative. His journalistic background comes in handy in this investigative-style narrative exploring an obsession with tickling that spirals into abuse, harassment, and mental torture.

The film, however, doesn't just focus on the grim and the weird. It also takes a stand on bullying in society and lends an empathetic perspective towards the victims who are exploited. It teases out the narrative of these young men, their fears, their desperation, and how they become trapped in this obscure web.

On a technical level, Tickled does an exemplary job of keeping the pace of the documentary taut without compromising on the depth of investigation or storytelling. The cinematography emphasizes the dark, almost film-noir like feel, heightening the general mood of uncertainty. Also, the well-executed editing keeps the audience's interest piqued through the narrative's many twists and turns.

Tickled is a fascinating, provocative, and deeply satisfying cinematic exploration that balances humor and intense investigative journalism. Its ability to provide terrifying insights into an obscure corner of the online world is unparalleled. It offers a cautionary tale about the power dynamics, manipulation, and exploitation hidden in the darkest corners of our digital world.

So, don't let the name deceive you. Tickled might sound like light-hearted fun, but the narrative it unfolds is far from it. Exploring an eccentric and shadowy world with an engaging and incisive approach, this documentary manages to provide thrilling entertainment whilst pondering on serious societal issues. A must-watch for those who appreciate well-researched, investigative documentaries with a dose of the bizarre.