Emma Roberts and Dave Franco star in Nerve, a timely edge-of-your-seat thriller and a razor-sharp examination of the seductive power of social media.
Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman based on the popular young-adult novel by Jeanne Ryan, the game of Nerve introduces a pool of young thrill-seeking players who accept increasingly risky dares from anonymous watchers to win valuable rewards. As small-time pranks ramp up into dangerous, sometimes acts, fans watch the action captured live on smartphones.
When Staten Island high-school senior Vee Delmonico (Emma Roberts) is challenged by her best friend to take part in the game, it launches a series of life-changing events. Each game of Nerve lasts only 24 hours; then a winner is declared and it moves on to the next challengers. “The movie asks the audience the same question Vee asks herself,” says Schulman. “Are you a watcher or a player? Not just in the game of Nerve, but in life itself. Vee has played it safe her whole life, but Nerve pushes her to take chances, which can be very dangerous. If you play, you may get hurt, or you may win and become a celebrity and make a lot of money. You can take the safe road, or you can take the risk. It’s all up to you.”
The more sinister side of the Internet seemed like a topic that was ripe for exploration to actress Emma Roberts. “People are putting their whole lives on the Internet today,” she notes. “This movie captures that phenomenon and takes it one step further.” Roberts says she thinks twice now when she uses Instagram, Twitter—or even email. “Nothing’s ever truly private. I think this movie taps into that feeling. Whatever you post can potentially be seen by anyone, whether you want it to be or not.”
Nerve opens on July 27 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.