When Online Games Meet Reality: Nerve

Nerve is one of those movies that if you enjoy teen drama, you definitely go to see it once it premiers. In my case, I have a teen sister that adores Emma Roberts (and Dave Franco), but I was also very intrigued by the plot, as the trailer does a pretty nice job in making you want to see the movie. In my opinion, trailers are a make it or break it when it comes to deciding a movie to watch. 

The story centers around Vee (Roberts), a senior in high school, who doesn’t like danger and usually plays in her safe zone, both at school and her personal life. After a sermon from her friends on why she needs to go out more, she decides to sign up Nerve, a online reality game, where watchers give you dares and you have to achieve it in order to received prizes and go up the top players list. One of Vee’s first challenges is to kiss a strange in a restaurant, who turns out to be Ian, another player. Ian and Vee team up in the game, winning challenge after challenge, until things go out of control and eventually, the game becomes their entire reality. 

Nerve is a movie that keeps you on your feet and literally “nervous” in several moments, as you cheer for Vee’s sucess, but there are a good number of life threating scenes for the characters, such as driving a motorcycle in 100km with your eyes blinded or crossing a 10 story building in a ladder. 

However, although the end may be quite predictable, it is good to see a critic on cinema, especially in a movie for teens, on our society’s obsession with cellphones and live filminig their moments 24hours for everyone to see. Moreover, when we have such a big hit like Pokemon Go, where real and virtual life coincide, it is also important to discuss the limits and dangerous of this type of exposure.

By the way, the soundtrack is great! You should download it on Spotify.

• dave franco
• emma roberts
• movie
• review