Nerve (2013)

Good concept, poorly executed.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Saw this film at Sydney Film Festival. Raw and real. Loved the gritty side of Sydney it showed. Grace was a standout. Jacob's relationship with her was very convincing. Always love Denise Roberts.Incredible that it was shot in two weeks on a very small budget. Goes to show that a good story and good directing can prevail over budget restrictions and produce an excellent film. Definitely seems to be a shortage of films in this genre being made in Australia.Good action scene at the conclusion!

A man Jakob Evans played by Christian Clark is determined to find closure after he discovers his wife, who is tragically killed in a car accident had been having an affair. First time feature director, Sebastien Guy cleverly guides the audience through Jakob's tangled journey as he becomes more and more obsessed about his former wife's mystery lover and embarks on a mission to discover this man's identity and track him down. Unable to live surrounded by reminders of his wife in the home they shared, Jakob rents a room in a seedy share house with a disturbed junkie-ish girl Grace (Georgina Haig) whom he befriends and enlists to help him. The pieces of the puzzle come together bit by bit throughout the film, resulting in a fascinating twist at the end. It can be likened to Christopher Nolan's Momento both in mood and narrative, and like Momento, there are a lot of questions and answers which aren't served on a platter which only adds to the intrigue.

An engrossing, intriguing and most importantly, entertaining little film from first time feature director Sebastien Guy.We follow the main character, Jakob Evans, on his obsessive search for closure after the accidental death of his adulterous wife and the impact this has on others, most notably a young woman, Grace. His relationship with her, not an easy one by any means, is beautifully portrayed by the two leads.Recurring images help convey the broken mind and shattered world of Jakob Evans (Christian Clark) and when his reality crosses over into the world of others, it is engrossing to watch. It has a bit of the feeling of 'Memento' about it, which puts it in good company.The story is an intense and intimate drama, and we are taken on a journey around and inside a different Sydney from that which tourists usually see. The cinematography is superb and I personally hope the soundtrack is made available for purchase. Guy has put together a rather delicious package full of visual and auditory treats that compliment each other.Another of the treats is the casting. Gary Sweet delivers as part of a strong supporting cast to the two main characters and Georgina Haig is superb in what could have been a clichéd role. Definitely worth putting some money on her having a big career in the future.Definitely worth the time if you get the chance.

I have had the pleasure to watch Nerve during the Sydney Film Festival and all I could think of was 'Whaoooo'. I was glad to see one of my favorite style executed in a movie shot in my own city. The style which allow you as an audience to think, and see where it will take you. Nothing is given away in too many obvious way, but everyone with a sense of details will get to the end of the film and think 'yeah, that's it, I understand now!' Allowing us to think as an audience, but also as people, relating with our own life, our own doubts, and our own mistakes. Relating to the character in such a deep way that we understand them, or just accept them without judging. The directing and acting performances has been extremely well executed. I loved the way it has been filmed. It helped me to be part of this space, which somehow created that tension that I am looking forward when watching a movie like this. The sound has been admirably polished to a point where you could easily just close your eyes and let it go. Highly recommend.