What Is Tickled About?
The premise of Tickled in 330 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
New Zealand journalist David Farrier has built a career on unusual stories: eccentric corners of culture, peculiar obsessions, and the strange humor hidden in unexpected places. His interest in an online endurance contest centered on competitive tickling begins as curiosity about a bizarre subculture, but the deeper he looks, the more unsettling the questions become. The film’s tone shifts gradually from playful absurdity toward unease, reflecting Farrier’s growing awareness that the contest may exist within a much darker ecosystem.
The online world surrounding the contest mixes performance, voyeurism, physical discomfort, and an unsettling willingness by participants to endure extreme situations. Young athletic men are shown being restrained and tickled for the entertainment of distant audiences, while the production company behind the spectacle, Jane O’Brien Media, presents the idea as a niche business with little room for outside scrutiny. What first appears eccentric and harmless feels increasingly complicated, particularly when the people connected to it react defensively to ordinary requests for information and an interview.
Farrier’s skepticism draws him into the story, and he begins working with producer Dylan Reeve. Together, they approach the organization with the enthusiasm of curious reporters looking for an unconventional story, only to encounter resistance that seems disproportionate to the project’s harmless-seeming premise. Their investigation becomes a study not just of tickling videos, but also of the personalities, power dynamics, and personal histories surrounding them. Former participants and other figures in the scene offer perspectives that complicate the polished image promoted online.
The documentary maintains an immersive, curiosity-driven atmosphere, balancing the absurdity of its central subject with the discomfort of what the investigation uncovers. As Farrier and Reeve press for a clearer picture, they confront a network shaped by secrecy, manipulation, and pressure on vulnerable people to remain silent. Farrier must balance his appetite for a peculiar story with the responsibility of exposing what may lie beneath it, turning a quirky assignment into a tense examination of consent, exploitation, and the cost of asking uncomfortable questions.
What Happens in Tickled?
The complete story of Tickled, from the first scene to the last, in 231 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
David Farrier, a New Zealand reporter specializing in odd and quirky stories, discovers a strange online subculture centered around competitive endurance tickling, where athletic young men are restrained and tickled. When he attempts to secure an interview with the producer, Jane O’Brien Media, he is met with an unexpectedly hostile and homophobic response. Intrigued by this volatility, Farrier teams up with producer Dylan Reeve to uncover the identity of the people behind the company.
As their investigation goes viral, the duo faces legal threats and is visited in New Zealand by representatives from Jane O’Brien Media who attempt to bully and intimidate them into dropping the project. The investigation eventually leads them to Los Angeles and reveals the history of “Terri DiSisto” (also known as “Terri Tickle”), a pioneer of tickling videos from the 1990s. Through interviews with former participants and other producers, Farrier and Reeve uncover a pattern of coercion, manipulation, and defamation used by Jane O’Brien Media to silence those who spoke out.
The trail eventually leads them to David D’Amato, a former school administrator and the man behind the “Terri Tickle” alias. They discover D’Amato had previously served prison time for cyber-attacks against a former partner. After tracking him down and confronting him on the street, Farrier speaks with D’Amato’s stepmother, who provides a chilling conclusion to the investigation when she admits she is “afraid” of her stepson.
Tickled Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Farrier discovers 'competitive endurance tickling' videos” to “The stepmother's chilling admission”. 4 events name a place, across 3 locations.
- 1
Farrier discovers 'competitive endurance tickling' videos
David Farrier, a New Zealand television reporter known for covering 'quirky and odd stories', stumbles upon online videos depicting 'competitive endurance tickling'. In the videos, young athletic men are restrained and tickled by each other. Intrigued by the strange subculture, he decides to investigate it as a potential story.
- 2
Interview request met with a hostile email
Farrier reaches out to Jane O'Brien Media, the company behind the videos, requesting an interview for his story. The company responds with a volatile email, refusing to 'associate with a homosexual journalist'. Farrier, who is actually bisexual, is bewildered by the disproportionately hostile response.
- 3
Farrier partners with Dylan Reeve
Puzzled by the aggressive reaction to a simple interview request, Farrier teams up with television producer Dylan Reeve. The two begin digging deeper into the mysterious producers behind the tickling videos. Their partnership becomes the core of the investigation.
Where:New Zealand
- 4
Blog posts go viral and legal threats arrive
Farrier and Reeve publish their initial blog posts about the strange world of competitive endurance tickling, and the posts quickly go viral. In response, Jane O'Brien Media sends them legal threats. Rather than backing down, the pair decides to press on with the investigation.
- 5
Jane O'Brien Media representatives visit New Zealand
Jane O'Brien Media sends Kevin Clarke and two other representatives to New Zealand to meet with Farrier and Reeve. Although the interactions are superficially cordial, the representatives attempt to bully the investigators into dropping the project. The meeting only deepens the pair's suspicions about the company.
Where:New Zealand
- 6
Turned away in Los Angeles
Farrier and Reeve respond by following the Jane O'Brien Media representatives back to the United States. They track them to an apparent video recording location in Los Angeles, but are turned away at the door. The failed visit yields little access but reinforces how secretive the operation is.
Where:Los Angeles
- 7
The 'Terri DiSisto' alias surfaces
Researching the phenomenon further, Farrier and Reeve uncover information about a person known as 'Terri DiSisto', also known as 'Terri Tickle'. This figure pioneered recruiting and distributing tickling videos online in the 1990s. The discovery suggests the tickling operation reaches back decades.
When:1990s
- 8
Independent producer Richard Ivey speaks out
The duo interviews Richard Ivey, an independent tickling-video producer whose operations are comparatively low-key. Unlike Jane O'Brien Media, Ivey openly acknowledges the homoerotic aspect of the content. His perspective provides a stark contrast to the aggressive company Farrier first contacted.
- 9
Former participants describe coercion and retaliation
Former participants in Jane O'Brien Media's videos describe coercive and manipulative treatment by the producers. They recount defamation campaigns, the exposure of their personal information, and associates being contacted to discredit them as homosexuals or sexual deviants. All of this came in retaliation for speaking out against the company.
- 10
A recruiter exposes non-consensual 'audition' videos
A local recruiter in Muskegon, Michigan, describes the 'audition' videos he helped make for the company. He explains that the footage was published by Jane O'Brien Media without the participants' consent. His account exposes how young men were drawn into the operation under false pretenses.
Where:Muskegon, Michigan
Show the other 5 events of Tickled Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Documents link the company to David D'Amato
Farrier and Reeve discover documents on a defunct tickling video website that link Jane O'Brien Media to David D'Amato. D'Amato, a former school administrator, is revealed to be the person behind the 'Terri Tickle' alias. This connection finally puts a real name and face on the mysterious operation.
- 12
D'Amato's criminal past revealed
From two journalists who investigated Terri DiSisto years earlier, the pair learns about D'Amato's criminal history. He served a six-month prison sentence for disabling computer systems at two different universities. The attacks were retaliation against an 18-year-old male student who tried to terminate an online relationship that began when the young man was 17.
- 13
D'Amato's source of wealth uncovered
The investigators determine that David D'Amato now lives on a substantial inheritance from his father, a successful lawyer. This financial independence explains how he has been able to fund his operations over the years. It also accounts for his willingness to spend heavily on legal threats.
- 14
Confronting D'Amato on the street
After considerable effort to locate D'Amato, Farrier and Reeve finally confront him in person on the street. D'Amato offers no real answers and instead responds with additional legal threats. The encounter brings the anonymous producer face to face with the journalists he tried to silence.
- 15
The stepmother's chilling admission
Before returning to New Zealand, Farrier contacts D'Amato's stepmother for comment. She implicitly confirms her stepson's 'tickling' past, and Farrier informs her that he believes D'Amato is still involved in it. The last thing she says to him is that she is 'afraid' of David D'Amato.
Who Are the Main Characters in Tickled?
3 characters, among them David Farrier, Dylan Reeve and David D'Amato: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 2 of them link to the actor’s page.
- DF
David Farrier
Played by David Farrier
David Farrier is a dedicated and intrepid journalist who specializes in quirky and odd stories. His curiosity drives him to investigate the strange world of competitive endurance tickling, where he encounters hostility and legal challenges. Farrier's determination to uncover the truth showcases his fearless approach to journalism.
- 📰 Journalist
- 🎤 Storyteller
- 🔍 Investigator
- DR
Dylan Reeve
Played by Dylan Reeve
Dylan Reeve is a producer who partners with David Farrier in the investigation. With a keen eye for storytelling, he helps uncover the layers of manipulation within the tickling subculture. Reeve's collaborative spirit complements Farrier's journalistic rigor, making them a formidable duo in their quest for the truth.
- 🎥 Producer
- 🚀 Collaborator
- 🔎 Investigator
- DD
David D'Amato
David D'Amato, also known by his alias 'Terri Tickle,' is a complex character at the center of the investigation. A former school administrator with a troubled past, he embodies the darker aspects of the tickling industry. His actions and the chilling insights from his stepmother reveal the psychological complexities involved.
- 👤 Antagonist
- 📜 Controversial Figure
- 🔒 Enigma
Where and When Is Tickled Set?
Tickled is set in New Zealand and Los Angeles (1990s, Present). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1990s, Present
The documentary explores events from the 1990s, particularly the emergence of tickling videos, while also taking place in contemporary times as David Farrier and Dylan Reeve investigate the current practices of Jane O'Brien Media. The contrast highlights how the tickling subculture and its subsequent challenges have evolved over the decades.
Where
New Zealand, Los Angeles
The film primarily takes place in New Zealand, where journalist David Farrier begins his investigation into the bizarre world of competitive endurance tickling. The investigation later leads him to Los Angeles, a hub of media and entertainment, known for its film industry and diverse culture.
- 🌏 Location
- 🎬 Film Industry
What Are the Themes of Tickled?
2 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Investigative Journalism and Coercion and Manipulation.
-
01
Investigative Journalism
At its core, 'Tickled' showcases the relentless pursuit of truth by journalists David Farrier and Dylan Reeve. Their investigation not only reveals shocking truths about the tickling subculture but also confronts larger issues of intimidation and silencing dissent in the media landscape.
-
02
Coercion and Manipulation
The film delves deep into themes of coercion and manipulation as it unravels the tactics employed by Jane O'Brien Media to control narratives. It illustrates how power can be abused in the digital age, impacting those who dare to speak out against it.
What Kind of Film Is Tickled?
Dark in tone, with variable pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A bracingly unsettling investigative documentary that turns bizarre online curiosity into a chilling examination of coercion, intimidation, and hidden criminality.
- darkly curious
- uneasy
- ominous
- suspenseful
- confrontational
- oppressive
- investigative journalism
- online fetish culture
- sexual exploitation
- coercion and manipulation
Content notes: sexual exploitation, coercion and manipulation, harassment and intimidation, blackmail and legal threats, homophobia, sexual fetish content.
Quiz
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