User reviews

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!

I've had the pleasure of seeing Eric Gerber's previous work before Pester. I began the Milwaukee Short Film Festival 20 years ago, and continue to still run it to this day. During that time Eric was just a film student in the area when he submitted his work, and even as a young student he had a clear vision of how he saw the world.

Watching his work grow over the years, to this his first feature has been a real pleasure. His art has grown immensely, the way he studies his subjects hasn't changed, but his insights into have.

Being his own DP on his first feature help reinforce that. The imagery as usual with Eric's work are not only beautifully photographed but gives its characters layers beyond what you are witnessing.

The dialogue is sparse, and that's perfect for this film because beyond the imagery, the acting is first rate. Much is said in just the the most subtle body language. A knowing look. The hunched over posture of contemplating something. A dismissive wave. This extraordinary cast of unknowns is headed up by Nick Sommer who plays Paul Pester, a son to a fading empire. The one who might be the most stable in this small three person family unit, that is until the film takes a closer look at him.

In today's market Pester is a hard sell, but it worth it if you give it a chance. It's a film that is quiet but at the same time packs a punch. A true Independent film in today's sea of fighting robots and pretentious self important films begging for an Oscar.

Seek it out.

Pester is an exciting debut feature film by writer/director/dp Eric Gerber. I am particularly impressed with the depth of the writing. It is a film that explores dark and personal subject matter but also includes a unique quirkiness that gives it a good amount of humor. The story is very original and there are times when it is about go over the edge of creepiness, but it never does. This creates a tension that is reinforced by the interpersonal relationships of the characters. There are moments where it appears that something very twisted is happening and then there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for it, or at least the strange logic of the characters makes the viewer go along with it. It is writing like that that I find compelling in this film. The acting is great, and from reading interviews with Gerber it sounds like there was a healthy division of written lines and actor improvisation, which in this case makes the characters feel more real. The ending is a cleverly executed metaphor, which I won't give away. Beautifully shot and edited, all the elements of this film combined to create a very professional independent film from an exciting new director and a great crew. Looking forward to the next Gerber film.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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", written & directed by Eric Gerber, is a film that really snuck up on me. When I first heard about it at the Milwaukee Film Festival I went home and found the trailer and became instantly drawn into the unique visual style and a really somber, mellow performance from lead Nick Sommer (Blood Junkie, Billy Club & Don't Go to the Reunion) which I had not seen from this often comedy actor.

It's hard to be subjective toward the film as I know a few of the members involved, but I had never met Eric Gerber before seeing the film. What I found so endearing about his work as the director and cinematographer was how he was able to get naturalistic, real performances from everyone involved and how he shot this seemingly low budget film in such a way that feels like it had a lot more support behind it.

Tonally I'd compare the film to Dan Gilroy's "Nightcrawler" in the way it shows you the dark sides behind every human being and the less colorful areas of Los Angeles.

Without giving too much away, "Pester" tells the story of Paul Pester (Nick Sommer) and his drug addicted brother Ethan (Mathew Dunlap) and how Paul uses the family pest removal business as a way to not only help his brother stay clean, but help bring them closer together. Sometimes funny, often thought provoking, "Pester" is a film that should be getting far more attention that it has been.

If given the chance, seek out this film.

Pester is a really intriguing bit of art house cinema. I watched the movie on Amazon Prime, but it gave me the feeling like I was watching a film festival gem waiting to be discovered. The film has a unique sensibility -- it's a very visual film where dialogue is sparse and the two leads' nuanced performances speak volumes. The cinematography is a particular standout here, capturing visuals ranging from the beautiful to the beautifully rotten or downtrodden. Pester is well crafted overall by do-it-all filmmaker Eric Gerber, and I particularly appreciated the symbolic ending of the film. I would highly recommend checking out Pester if you're looking for a unique bit of independent cinema.

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.