I honestly don't have much to say other than, seeing something like this in my own backyard is very telling of the legal and societal parameters that allow for people like this to succeed in this country.
The fact that David Farrier stands a better chance at dismantling a mega-Church than one man in Whanganui does also says something.
It's funny, terrible, sad, exploitative in moments, very well put together and full of heavy dread. If you don't live in a country as small as ours I forgive you for not seeing what's to worry about when there's people like this that scurry around.
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A lasting sense of paranoia and dread
More great work from Farrier
On the surface it's another interesting Farrier doco about a very weird person who gets their jollies from manipulating people.
But as the film goes on, and you start to comprehend the nefarious and vindictive nature of what is happening, it becomes a deep insight into how utterly cooked it is that we don't have any means to protect people from the Mr Organ's of the world.
We hear a lot about violence in relationships in New Zealand, but this is the first time I've seen a documentary capture the destructiveness of the emotional/psychological abuse that people are forced to endure at the hands of abusers. The people who have chosen to tell their stories are incredibly brave - and I hope they never have to feel alone standing against this truly vile character.
It's a wild ride, its very funny in parts... and its the most chilling insight into coercive and controlling people I've seen.
Stunningly funny and astonishingly scary
The feeling of watching this in a relatively small but jam-packed kiwi cinema was absolutely fantastic.
Everyone laughing and gasping along at this funny, horrifying, distressing and impactful film.
If you can see it in a full theatre, absolutely do so.
There were parts of the movie where my partner and I gripped each other in horror. My stomach sunk at parts and a few minutes later I was cackling merrily.
David Farrier clearly put a lot of himself on the line for this movie and put himself in the sights of a very scary individual and the results are something he can be proud of.
This is a brilliant piece of cinema and a stunning showcase of journalism.