SYNOPSIS

Journalist David Farrier stumbles across a mysterious online tickling competition. As he digs deeper, he faces stiff resistance, but that doesn't stop him getting to the bottom of a stranger-than-fiction story.

CINDIE SAYS:

What begins as a quirky dive into an obscure online subculture quickly spirals into a gripping mystery in Tickled (2016), a documentary directed by New Zealand journalist David Farrier and filmmaker Dylan Reeve. This strange yet compelling film starts with lighthearted curiosity about “Competitive Endurance Tickling” but soon reveals a disturbing world of online manipulation, cyber harassment, and financial power used to silence victims. Tickled is not just about tickling—it’s a true-crime thriller hiding under the guise of an oddball curiosity piece.

While Tickled begins with an air of curiosity and humor, it quickly transforms into a tense and unsettling exposé. One of the film’s greatest strengths is how it keeps shifting gears. What starts as a niche internet mystery becomes a dark investigation into power, control, and exploitation. Farrier and Reeve approach the subject with a mix of dry humor and genuine concern, making it as engaging as it is disturbing.

Tickled is one of those rare documentaries that starts as one thing and evolves into something much bigger and more sinister. It’s an engaging mix of dark humor, investigative journalism, and true crime, making it a must-watch for anyone who enjoys documentaries that peel back the layers of hidden worlds.