Nerve
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Kindness rewarded in shallow but fun teen cyberthriller.
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Nerve
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What's the Story?
NERVE tells the story of high school yearbook photographer Vee (Emma Roberts). After her older brother's death, Vee lives life in a safe zone, rarely taking any chances -- unlike her sexy, outgoing best friend, Syd (Emily Meade). Syd tells Vee about an online game called Nerve, in which users can choose to "watch" or "play" through a series of dares. After a particularly humiliating day, Vee decides to play. This instantly sends her on an odyssey across New York City, unexpectedly teamed up with the cool, kind Ian (Dave Franco). As the dares get bigger and bigger, Vee finds everything spinning out of control; the night leads up to a deadly face-off with a ruthless player known as Ty (Colson Baker, a.k.a. rapper Machine Gun Kelly).
Is It Any Good?
This lightweight thriller for the new millennium is flashy, with decent, likable characters and adrenaline-fueled thrills, even if it grows ever more implausible and ultimately disposable. Yet it does offer a spectacular condemnation of mob mentality and internet trolling, instead clearly rewarding kindness and responsibility. Co-directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman previously brought us the internet dating scam story Catfish, as well as the surveillance camera-powered Paranormal Activity 3 and 4, and they sure seem to have their fingers on the pulse of ... something.
Nerve effectively captures the feel of a movement or a trend (it sort of recalls Pokemon Go) in a New York City setting, as well as the adrenaline of an all-night romp. The filmmakers keep a strong storytelling pace, blowing right past several small plot problems and careless shortcuts without a thought. And the casting is spot-on; the chemistry between Roberts and Franco certainly helps carry the story along.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Nerve's violence. How intense is it? How does the risk of danger impact the level of the thrills? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What's the appeal of an online game like Nerve? Is it the promise of fame? The voyeuristic quality of watching? How does it compare to real-life games (or shows)?
How does the game use the concept of mob mentality? What happens to large groups of people, and how do they make decisions? How does the main character prevail over this type of thinking?
What's the best way for teens to stay safe online? When should families start to talk about online responsibility?
How does the movie portray drinking and drug use? Is substance use glamorized? Are there any real-life consequences? Why is that important?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 27, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: October 25, 2016
- Cast: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Emily Meade
- Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Thriller
- Topics: High School
- Run time: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: thematic material involving dangerous and risky behavior, some sexual content, language, drug content, drinking and nudity-all involving teens
- Last updated: April 1, 2023
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