Pester

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.

Pester is one of those films you don't easily forget. Just about every shot is well crafted and visually memorable. I especially appreciate the cinematography--Eric Gerber has an eye for colors and grit. Everything here works well, though. The acting is effectively understated. The dialogue is sparse, but it propels the characters and their conflicts toward an unexpected and unforgettable conclusion. The subject matter is dark and unusual too, but, underneath, the film has quite a bit of heart in the way it handles family relationships.

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.

Pester is a very well-done independent feature with thought provoking characters and situations.

The director, Eric Gerber, does a good job of presenting characters to the audience and then having the audience slowly question their first impressions of the characters.

I found the main characters to be effective and many of the supporting characters to be very interesting and well-acted. The relationship of the brothers was a pleasure to watch as the movie progressed and we learn more about each of them.

The music was simple and effective, and the lighting and editing were top-notch.