NERVE (USA 2016) ****
Directed by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joos

Starring: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Emily Meade |

Review by Gilbert Seah

NERVE is a video game comedy/thriller/horror written by Jessica Sharzer based on her 2012 novel. Directors Schulman and Joos have previously made a documentary called CATFISH based on similar material. The video game NERVE is online reality based focusing on the dare part of ‘truth or dare’. Going on line with the underground app, one can click on ‘watchers’ or ‘players’. Players make money as they complete dares suggested by the watchers who pay to watch their players.

Enter into the game high school senior Venus Delmonic aka Vee (Emma Roberts). Fed up of being her best friend’s (Emily Meade) sidekick, Vee becomes a player for VERVE. She is caught up in the game with fellow-player Ian (Dave Franco) who has a secret. The film plunges Vee and Ian deeper and deeper until they become prisoners of the game. The climax of the film where all the watchers gather is somewhat similar to how raves were organized in the past. The film is incredibly real and current in today’s youth scene.

The film begins like a teen comedy with the girls acting like another version of MEAN GIRLS. Once Vee enters the game, directors Schulman and Joos slowly and effectively alter the mood to thriller and finally to horror.

The film contains a few very funny scenes as well as a few really suspenseful ones. The funniest line heard in a film by me this year comes in the hospital scene with Vee’s mother (played by Juliette Lewis, one of my favourite actresses). The suspense scene is high-octane fuelled as Vee and Ian complete a dare riding a bike blindfolded at 60 mph.

Dave Franco, shows here that he is capable as a lead of carrying an entire film. The actor has only done supporting roles in the past. He and Emma Roberts make good romantic chemistry. The kisses are done old movie style with lip smooching rather than with tongue. Here, it is apparent that the directors are aiming at a less restricted rating. The film is also noticeably absent form blood and violence despite the film’s theme. The best thing too is that the film contains a message about video games, though quite obviously stated at the climax of the film and more subtly put forward during a dramatic argument between Vee and Sydney.

American rapper MGK does an excellent job in the small but important role of Ty, a psychotic NERVE player who makes it to the finalist.

With all the hype on video games like POKEMON GO, NERVE arrives at the best timing possible. If the film seems far-fetched, it isn’t. There is an app called “Periscope” half similar to NERVE that emerged half way during the filming of NERVE.

NERVE is a very clever film released by Lionsgate famous for THE HUNGER GAMES and TWILIGHT franchises. This is definitely a film that caters to the same target audience and with some luck and good marketing, the desperate-for-a-hit studio will hit the big bucks with this film.

 

 

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