advertisement

Paranoid social media thriller loses its 'Nerve'

In one of the weirdest, most presciently timed releases in movie history, the neon-glowing social media thriller "Nerve" invades theaters not only as a cautionary peer-pressure tale, but as a paranoid Mr. Hyde version of the "Pokemon Go" craze.

Smartphone and computer users can choose to be "watchers" or "players" in a superhot new communal game called "Nerve."

Shy Staten Island high school senior Vee (a doe-eyed Emma Roberts), tired of being called a scaredy-cat by her popular bud Sydney (Emily Meade), doesn't know about Nerve, but takes a double-dog dare to become a player.

She receives objectives from anonymous game masters who direct-deposit increasing amounts of money into her bank account for accomplishing her tasks on time.

Her friend-zone pal Tommy (Miles Heizer) tries to stop her, but Vee wants to get to the finals to prove herself.

Among her first tasks, she must kiss a stranger for five seconds for $100. She chooses a buzz-cut Ian (Dave Franco, a bundle of affected mannerisms) because he's reading her fave book, "To the Lighthouse."

Coincidence? Ian confesses that Nerve paid him to sit there and read that book. Nerve knows all about Vee from her Facebook profile.

It's just a harbinger of the growing corporate paranoia in "Nerve," a trendy internet thriller reminiscent of David Fincher's creepy "The Game" and Glenn Ford's 1970 drama "Brotherhood of the Bell."

The modest dares quickly turn into dangerous stunts with players eagerly trading their empathy and humanity for cash, followers and instant online fame.

Then, omnipresent watchers use smartphones to stream the action to sensation-seeking audiences in an internet version of the Colosseum.

Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman - makers of the provocative 2010 documentary "Catfish" - contain the escalating absurdities in Jessica Sharzer's screenplay, complemented by Michael Simmonds' shimmering neo-noiry camera work and innovative computer graphics.

Then a desperate, preposterously stupid climax undermines the already-thin narrative, negating a solid, stabilizing performance by Roberts (Julia's niece).

None of this ominous, youth-on-the-run tale could have happened if Vee's needy Mom (Juliette Lewis) had simply let her attend CalArts.

But Mom won't let her leave New York City. What nerve.

“Nerve”

★ ★ ½

Starring: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Juliette Lewis, Emily Meade, Miles Heizer

Directed by: Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost

Other: A Lionsgate release. Rated PG-13 for substance abuse, language, nudity, sexual situations. 96 minutes

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.