Mr. Movie: ‘Nerve’ capitalizes on texting, social media obsession
Nerve has an unnamed group operating an online game that has become popular with teens and young adults.
It’s called Nerve, and there are two ways to be involved: participate or watch.
Money is deposited into bank accounts for those who complete dares. Each dare has a bigger payoff.
Emma Roberts is shy, awkward Vee. Her bestie Sydney is one of the contest’s most popular players. One day, Vee gets ticked at Sydney, and after a lot of goading, decides to play. That sends her on an adventure with fellow player Ian ,who is played by Dave Franco.
The movie capitalizes on the obsession of today’s youth of staying in constant communication with their friends via texting and other social media. These teen characters — however — are so stereotyped that it’s hard to take them seriously.
What’s most disappointing is blowing a subject that has such potential. Writer Jessica Sharzer and the two directors — Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman of 2004’s Catfish fame — can’t make up their mind about whether to make a horror movie or a spoof of technology-addicted teens, so a chance to make a movie that is really creepy is lost.
Actually, watching real smartphone obsessed teens walk across a real street while texting is much more nerve-wracking than this movie.
‘Nerve’
Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Stars: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Emily Meade, Miles Heizer, Juliette Lewis
Mr. Movie rating: 2 stars
Rated R for mature themes, drug use and lots of language. It’s playing at the Carmike 12, the Fairchild Cinemas Pasco 12 and Queensgate 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen.
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it’s your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on DVD.
2 stars to 1 star: Don’t bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.
This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Mr. Movie: ‘Nerve’ capitalizes on texting, social media obsession."