Pester

Pester was one of the best independent films I have seen in a long time. Watching this family's dynamic drastically change throughout the film was delightfully thought provoking. Nick Sommer said as much with his characters gentle nuances, as he did with his dialog.

While in the beginning of the film it seems to be an open and shut case, the films situations morph into meaningful questions about what traps each and every one of us in our everyday lives.  Who is more normal, more dysfunctional, more sad and more abusive, are all themes that run throughout this movie.  

It asks the viewer to think about who the hero is, who the villain is, how many victims, as well as how many different roles humans play throughout their lifetimes.  Finally putting an emphasis on freedom and the challenges that present themselves to achieve even a small amount of true happiness.

Pester is a must see movie. Well done!

The way Eric Gerber (Director/Writer/DP) was able to say so much with so little is a testament to something I call the Binocular effect. The Binocular effect is when you look at something that seems so ordinary from far away that when viewed with binoculars has the effect to change a perspective suggestively occupying your interest without needing to know the dialog, this is the subtlety of Eric Gerber's craft to which he infects "Pester" with. What I hope is that if you come across this movie at some point in the near future you will give it a chance. A true independent film with a wonderfully intriguing art house feel "Pester" will easily keep your attention and in turn catch you off guard with the nature of how it's presented.

My curiosity was sparked by the interesting dynamic that existed within the Pester family. I was drawn into the story by the writer's ability to keep me guessing as my predictions of what was to come continued to change. While the film included many moments of intensity, I appreciated the comic relief laced throughout the movie. There were so many different themes woven within the plot, and the actors/actresses worked well together.The locations for the scenes were well selected and contributed to the rawness of the storyline. Judging by the quality of the picture, the filmmakers made great use of their resources. All the elements of the film helped to create a thoughtfully disturbing and thought provoking picture of family relationships. I look forward to viewing this film again!

A beautiful film. Deeply moving and unexpected. The artful cinematography captures impressive and honest performances from Nick Sommer and Matthew Dunlop and the story explores profound and challenging themes. Thought provoking and complex, this heartfelt film portrays the Pester's, a family of exterminators, and themes of addiction, decay, and death with surprising empathy, clarity, and humor. "Pester" renders a rich emotional landscape that sweeps from the smallest creatures scurrying in the dirt to the expansive desert sky. Though this is a premise that could easily lend itself to a dark and unsettling character study the layered performances, impeccable timing, and studied observations give this story a sense of discovery. "Pester" constructs a world both unfamiliar and resonant, haunting and staggeringly beautiful. This is a work that stick with you and demands to be watched multiple times. Highly recommended.

A horror film, a city study, and a deeply realized family portrait all at once, PESTER is unique. Set in a darkling LA nowhere PESTER is shot in locations so forlorn they are instant, heart-breaking classics of the genre. Eric Gerber's tactile cinematography is excellent, always beautiful even when picturing what we would normally consider repulsive. The performances, particularly the sensitive portrayals of the Pester brothers by Nick Sommer and Matthew Dunlop -- not to speak of their monstrous father, Thaine Allison -- are deep. There are scenes in PESTER that will make you squirm, and others that will chill you to the bone. But, unlike many exercises in horror, PESTER is not just about cheap thrills. There is a hard-won moral vision at its core. This film takes us on a trip through the byways of hell, as we struggle with the Pesters to reach the other side.