A man discovers his world is not all that it seems and he realizes that he is not what he is.
CREDITS
Produced & Directed by: Chris Esper
Written by: Kris Salvi
Cast: Dustin Teuber, Jennifer Drummond, Justin Thibault, Teddy Pryor, Michael Lepore, and Kris Salvi
Director of Photography: Colin Munson
Music By: Steven Lanning-Cafaro
AWARDS & HONORS
Winner of Best Experimental Film, Jersey Shore Film Festival (Asbury Park, NJ) (2021)
Rated Number 2 Short Film of the Year by A Word of Dreams
Nominated for Best US Drama, Austin Revolution Film Festival (Austin, TX) (2022)
Official Selection, Spring Lane Film Festival (Sanford, NC) (2022)
Official Selection, Massachusetts Independent Film Festival (Worcester, MA) (2022)
Official Selection, Maryland International Film Festival (Hagerstown, MD) (2022)
LINKS
REVIEWS
“The performances are good, our protagonist as confused as we are by the circumstances he finds himself in, with Esper’s final shot of the old, 50’s style car driving off into the woods acting as the icing on the cake.” - Mark, OC Movie Reviews
“This is a great little film that you have to search out. Highly Recommended.” - Steve Kopian, Unseen Films
“As a thought-provoking meditation on existence and purpose, Undertaker fits comfortably into Esper’s considerable oeuvre of short films produced by Stories in Motion.” - Scott Larson, Scott’s Movie Comments
“…it doesn't chase down answers but lets one come to its own conclusions, and the intentional use of thriller mainstays makes the whole thing even more fascinating. And a crisp direction, beautiful black-and-white cinematography, and a very able cast make this a piece of weirdness well worth watching.” - Michael Haberfelner, (re)Search my Trash
“Extraordinary on all fronts and endlessly absorbing, it is at the top of the list of my favorite short films of the year. 5 out of 5 stars.” - Andrew Buckner, A Word of Dreams
“Chris Esper, here with staple collaborator in writer/actor Kris Salvi, once more pushes the boundaries of mainstream cinema and provides a deeply, genuinely surrealistic journey that will make you sit back in wonder through its eccentricity and the enigmatic, open-ended interpretations that can be drawn from it.” - Kirk Fernwood, One Film Fan
“With Undertaker, Chris Esper has dug deep and released his inner David Lynch, with thanks to screenwriter Kris Salvi (yes, the one who played the aforementioned driver). Like a Lynch film, things can be a little hard to follow, but if you stick with it, the final result can be very rewarding. As for Esper, as we stated, he keeps growing and growing as a filmmaker, and it is a true pleasure to witness. 4 out of 5 stars.” - Carl Burgess, ScreenCritix
“I love what Undertaker offers the world, and I believe that films of this nature have a place in cinema and can be some of the most important films in Hollywood. 8 out of 10 stars.” - Kyle Bain, Bain’s Film Reviews
“I like a film that makes you think, and this one definitely does.” - Mark Krawczyk, The Final Cut
“Esper has never been afraid to tackle complex, edgy material even within the confines of low-budget filmmaking. It's a difficult task that Esper consistently tackles with tremendous success. The same is true with Undertaker, a film that's complex and difficult yet nicely brought to life by Esper, Kris Salvi's smart and aware script, and an ensemble cast that gets where the film is going even when the audience doesn't. 3.5 out of 5 stars.” - Richard Propes, The Independent Critic
“Undertaker is new yet nostalgic, it’s mysterious and curious with a strong atmosphere and an eery quietness. It might open up a few more questions than it answers but that doesn’t stop you from enjoying its unusual charm. 8 out of 10 stars.” - Rebecca Cherry, Film Carnage
