Tickled

Unless they're actively misrepresenting themselves, documentary titles usually give the audience perfect summary of the movie's material. For instance, a doc about a noted musician or band will tell you about their career, follow them on tour, or watch them create their latest album. I bring this up because today's fascinating film Tickled has one of the sharpest and darkest left turns I could possibly imagine.

The movie centers around New Zealand journalist David Farrier, a man with a reputation for amusing human interest stories in his native country. One such story includes the discovery of a "competitive endurance tickling" league complete with cash prizes, free flights, and more for participants. But as Farrier begins to shine a light on the "sport" he quickly enters an unexpected world of fetish video and unprecedented levels of online harassment.

Based on the title, you might amuse that this movie is all about what makes people ticklish, people who enjoy being tickled, people who enjoy tickling, etc. A deep dive into an interesting and previously undiscovered subculture. But as the description above indicates, the film is no laughing matter. Here's some of the startling takeaways and signature moments.

The Immediate & Horrifying Harassment

As Farrier explains, he initially intended to run the piece as an amusing one off, detailing the "tickling league" as an amusing and unexpected goof. What he's greeted with is a slew of threatening emails and letters threatening legal action (for what is never truly explained) full of gay slurs. It's the kind of thing you might expect in a internet comments section but this feels inordinately over the top. and as it turns out Farrier isn't the first person this has happened to.

How Deep the Rabbit Hole Goes

While you won't get bonus points for discovering the videos' true purpose, is it somewhat amazing just how much money, time, and effort goes into this company's video creation and harassment efforts. Only one former participant willingly identifies themselves and the rest are so afraid of retaliation (that gets the attention of the Secret Service...no really), that they clam up. It's terrifying.

The Predatory Behavior

Thankfully the movie isn't interested in making tickle video enthusiasts into monsters. They visit with a tickle video maker, watch a session and while it's clearly an acquired taste everything seems above board. It's clearly there to contrast the other tickle video group that uses lucrative monetary offers to desperate people and intimidation tactics to ensure silence. The combination of apparent shame, possessiveness, and denial is breathtaking in scope. Further reveals as the film progresses only make this worse.

Scary and fascinating, Tickled isn't what I expected but it is an undeniably engrossing look into the internet's dark side, the people who perpetuate it, and its victims. This is on HBO Go now and I highly recommend checking it out.