Director Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Genre Crime | Mystery | Thriller
Cast Dave Franco, Emma Roberts, Kimiko Glenn, Juliette Lewis
Rating PG-13
Release Date July 27th, 2016
“A high school senior finds herself immersed in an online game of truth or dare, where her every move starts to become manipulated by an anonymous community of “watchers.””
Nerve is unique cyber thriller directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman. The directing duo worked together on the documentary Catfish, Paranormal Activity 3 & 4, as well as the recently released indie horror film, Viral. Schulman is the older brother of Yaniv Schulman, known by most as “Nev” from the MTV show Catfish, which I will admit is an oddly addictive show. The film stars Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Emily Meade, and Miles Heizer. Nerve is also the big-budget film debut for musical artist and television personality Richard Colson Baker, better known as Machine Gun Kelly.
Nerve is a high-energy thrill-ride fueled by adrenaline, bright lights and club music, a successful recipe for the big screen. The film should appeal to a wide audience but unquestionably targets the “social media” generation. I really enjoyed the pace of the film and it certainly triggered a few nerves of my own during some of the more daring scenes. The soundtrack was instrumental (see what I did there?) in the success of the overall flow of the film. Right from the start, I felt that Nerve had an identity and planned to stick with it. The biggest flaw in my opinion is that this film has a clear dedication to a certain audience, mainly the 18 to early 20-something range of viewers, but the fact that it can still appeal to those of us “slightly” out of that age range is an accomplishment in itself. The far-fetched yet somehow believable enough premise had some initial plot inconsistencies that were quickly cleared up, which helped put my mind at ease.
Nerve boasts a quality cast from the leads on down to the supporting cast. I am a big fan of Dave Franco who I feel got his first big break in 21 Jump Street. He is a very solid actor who is more than likely struggling to get out of his brother James Franco’s shadow, but I think he is getting there. He was genuinely likable in his role and had fantastic chemistry with his co-star Emma Roberts. With a diverse acting career so far, including American Horror Story and We’re The Millers, Roberts is a talented and naturally beautiful actress who is building a nice career for herself. Franco and Roberts absolutely steal the show when they are on screen together, making it feel believable that they are the fan favorites for this “game”. I also enjoyed Emily Meade’s performance (you may recognize her from HBO’s dramatic series The Leftovers). Miles Heizer was a nice addition as he played the timid character similar to his role in the show Parenthood. Machine Gun Kelly and his 6’3 ½ frame did surprisingly well as the film’s nemesis. Acting was definitely a strong point for Nerve and easily one of the selling points.
I went to see Nerve expecting something gimmicky and overly flashy, but I was pleasantly surprised by a film that held my attention and certainly entertained me. I was also impressed by the films overall message which would certainly resonate with anyone who studied or has an interest in social psychology. The idea that people behave differently when part of a crowd or hiding behind a mask or more importantly, a screen, is very real and very much a problem in society today. People act out on the internet and feel less responsible for their actions, but Nerve reminds us otherwise. You are responsible for the things you do online and you WILL be held responsible, cyber-crime and cyber bullying is illegal. Didn’t expect for a movie like Nerve to teach you a little something huh? Well neither did I, now do yourself a favor and check out this cyber-thriller sooner than later.
