After a successful festival run, the riveting and terrifyingly insane documentary film “Mister Organ” is headed to U.S. theaters.
Mister Organ has been one of my favorite films from the festival circuit in recent months, and you can read more about my effusive thoughts here.
Thus, I was thrilled to hear that Drafthouse Films recently acquired the film for theatrical release in U.S. theaters later this year, followed by digital release across major streaming platforms.
I’m relatively new to the David Farrier fandom, the documentary filmmaker and journalist behind Mister Organ and 2016’s Tickled. But I assure you, my obsession has grown fast and furiously since first discovering him via a Fantastic Fest screening of Mister Organ.
Since then, I have subscribed to his newsletter and online forum Webworm, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite things. There’s a free version, but it’s well worth the small cost for the paid option, and all the funds go into supporting thought-provoking, courageous, wildly witty, and important independent journalism. It takes a minute to get signed up, and the interface is a tad frustrating. But I promise the payoff is worth any minor inconvenience.
With that bit of sincere and unsolicited promotion out of the way, I’m here to talk about the brilliance that is Mister Organ, one of the most fascinating, disturbing, darkly comedic, compelling as hell documentaries I’ve ever seen — and I’m a considerable doc devotee.
The synopsis is as follows:
As Farrier turns his camera on another stranger-than-fiction story, he finds himself caught in an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse with a mysterious character who expertly manipulates the lives of anyone who dares to expose his secrets.
The film was produced by Emma Slade, Firefly Films, Alex Reed, Bloom Pictures, and Farrier. It was executive produced by Ant Timpson, Mubi’s Bobby Allen & Efe Cakerel.
It was a critical and audience favorite at Fantastic Fest 2022 and has become a box office hit in Farrier’s native New Zealand.
“I am incredibly happy to be working with Drafthouse Films,” said Farrier.
“Watching this funny, disturbing, and deeply weird documentary with an audience is the way to see it. It has been seven years since TICKLED, so I am more than ready to do a little in-person road trip of America and present some of these screenings in person.”
I had the pleasure of seeing a Q&A with Farrier at Fantastic Fest, and he’s so funny, down-to-earth, wickedly smart, and captivating. As much as I loved Mister Organ, and I really loved it, I may have loved hearing Farrier talk about the film even more — and that’s saying something.
With that said, if you’re lucky enough to attend a screening of the film with Farrier in attendance, I urge you not to let that opportunity pass you by.
My fingers and toes are crossed that he comes back to Austin, Texas, for another screening. I won’t hesitate to buy a ticket.
Drafthouse Films acquired Mister Organ, along with The YouTube Effect and Everyone Will Burn.
Ahbra Perry, head of theatrical acquisitions for Drafthouse Films (my dream job), had this to say:
“Audiences are asking for more genre films and encouraging filmmakers to push their limits. All three of these movies are horrors, including MISTER ORGAN and THE YOUTUBE EFFECT, where real life is actually scarier than fiction.”
Founded in 2010, Drafthouse Films was launched by League, who also created the Alamo Drafthouse chain of theaters, also known as my holy church and one of Ferrier’s favorite theaters.
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