Due to the marvels of technology, accessing information is just one swipe away. As smart phones have become permanent appendages to our bodies, it’s never been easier to stay plugged in. Society has morphed into timely status updates and dopamine inducing social media “likes”.

Yet, as quickly as I offer observations about the ills of our addiction, here I am actively participating in it’s vices. As Doc Holliday once said “Hypocrisy knows no bounds”.

Honestly, there’s something voyeuristic about social media. Wanna watch 16 hours of hillbilly dancing? No problem! Love to watch live streams of street corners in Paris, France? Yep, no problem. Entertainment comes in so many shapes and sizes, anything is possible.

While the possibilities are endless, how far would someone go for the sake of that entertainment? Would risking self worth and sharing personal information be worth it? Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman have tapped into this possibility with their new film Nerve.

Emma Roberts and Dave Franco star in this emotional thriller about the perils of social gaming. From a simple dare Vee (Emma Roberts) partakes in a life changing event that will challenge the very nature of her ethics.

“Nerve” is a social game where you’re either a watcher or a player. As a player, the games basic rule is to accept a dare in exchange for money and rankings. The higher you rank, the more money you gain and as the dares grow, the risks become harder.

With the unlikely paring of Vee and Ian (Dave Franco) we see two young individuals rise very quickly in the rankings. Watchers become enthralled with the pair and as a result, set forth crazier dares that create tension for everyone involved.

What make Nerve work so well is it’s unpredictability with each dare. As Vee learns her embattled best friend Sydney (Emily Meade) nearly dies from a dare, she chooses to best her by winning the same dare. This is an example of why the film works. Even at the cost of true friendships, “Nerve” keeps the players wanting more. Like a drug that tears into it’s victim’s soul, nothing can stop the need for another game. It’s scary how real this movie feels.

I really liked Nerve as it reminded me how vulnerable society is. The directing style was on point and the music worked really well as a back drop for each sequence.

At some point, many people crave fame and fortune and would do many things to get it. Seeing this movie will hopefully remind everyone how dangerous that desire can be. Ultimately, Nerve did a good job proving how social media is a perfect playground for youthful angst and that, will never change.

Industrious high school senior, Vee Delmonico [Emma Roberts], has had it with living life on the sidelines.

When pressured by friends to join the popular online game Nerve, Vee decides to sign up for just one dare in what seems like harmless fun. But as she finds herself caught up in the thrill of the adrenaline-fueled competition partnered with a mysterious stranger [Dave Franco], the game begins to take a sinister turn with increasingly dangerous acts, leading her into a high stakes finale that will determine her entire future.

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime

Cast: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Juliette Lewis, Kimiko Glenn, Samira Wiley, Machine Gun Kelly, Miles Heizer, Emily Meade
Directed by: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Screenplay by: Jessica Sharzer
Written by: Jeanne Ryan