Nerve

How far would you go for a small stipend and an adrenaline rush? Would you kiss a stranger for five seconds in exchange for $100? How about riding a motorcycle blindfolded for a few thousand dollars? These are just a few of the dares included in the online game played in "Nerve," which uses a standard premise to offer a criticism on the voyeuristic society we currently live.

Based on the novel by Jeanne Ryan, "Nerve" centers on Vee (Emma Roberts, playing against type), a wallflower high school student who decides it's time to step out of her best friend's shadow. On a whim, she joins an online game that is described as "truth or dare, without the truth." The meek teenager says she will stop when she feels uncomfortable as she gets partnered with Ian (Dave Franco). As their dares get increasingly more involved and death-defying, the two must work to beat the game or die trying.

"Nerve" is a techno thriller for the millennial generation, preying on the fear of anonymity and the lack of control over technology. At the advent of the internet, there was Sandra Bullock's "The Net," and countless films since have featured the dangers of social media at the center of their plot. In an unplanned coincidence, "Nerve" is hitting the market right as Pok�mon Go is sweeping the world. Imagine an adult-only version of Pok�mon Go on crack, and you kind of get an idea of what "Nerve" offers its players.

Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, who cut their teeth on the "Catfish" documentary and multiple "Paranormal Activity" sequels, are at the helm here. The directing team offers a stylized, highly neon-centric version of New York City. Even Ian's motorcycle glows a fluorescent blue as they ride throughout the Big Apple.

It's a familiar look to movies in this genre, going all the way back to "Hackers" in the 1990s. Joost and Schulman do incorporate some of handheld camera tricks used primarily in documentaries to nice effect here, as well as some nice tricks to keep the audience from having to constantly watch the characters' iPhone screens.

While the directors were able to visually leave their mark, they weren't as successful with creating tension. There's only a single sequence that will put you on the edge of your seat, as Vee's best friend tries to top her dares with a dare of her own. Before the scene is fully finished, they cut away to stock footage of other people's dares.

In fact, the tensest aspect of the film is figuring out Ian's backstory. Franco plays the character close to the vest, coming off as secretive and shady. Even when you find out what his story might be, you may find yourself waiting for the other shoe to drop in a surprise twist at the end.

Embedded throughout the film is a commentary about the current state of voyeurism in our culture. The game offers the option to be a watcher or a player. If you're a watcher, you get to observe your favorite players for 24 hours. Since the game is open sourced, any of the watchers can also submit dares to the players. They get to watch and vote on things that could leave a lasting mark on the player's life and body.

To them, these aren't real people, nor will they suffer real consequences. When viewers are asked to vote on whether someone should be killed, bloodlust takes over. Much like how "The Purge" offers a commentary on how removed people have become from their neighbors, "Nerve" takes it a step further by letting people play a real-life version of "Choose Your Own Adventure" from the comfort of their own couch, without ever thinking twice of the dangers or damage their actions might cause.

To be clear, the plot of "Nerve" falls apart if you stop to think about it for too long. This is escapist fare that is trying to make a statement. Like many of the films released in the summer months, you can turn your brain off while you are watching it -- in fact, it is better if you do. If you have the nerve to do that, you will find yourself able to sit back and enjoy this piece of brain candy.