Josh Biggs (Tyler Langdon, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone) is a young man riddled with severe anxiety. When he agrees to be the subject of an experiment pertaining to the treatment of social anxiety disorder, he hopes it will be the end of his troubles... and a way to get closer to its pretty conductor, Aurora Pilar (Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival "Best Actress" winner, Laura Alexandra Ramos). Little does he know, he's about to endure the battle of his life. In a performance that skillfully juggles drama and comedy, Langdon leads a colorful cast in this poignant character study. Nerve is an "instant indie classic" that takes real risks.
**_Odd dramedy that analyzes social anxiety_**
A shy young man in Los Angeles agrees to be the subject of a grad student’s dissertation paper.
“Nerve” (2011) is an indie written & directed by one man, costing only $27,500, which is surprising given the professionalism of the proceedings. The male protagonist, played by Tyler Langdon, comes across as a combination of Emilio Estevez and Chris Evans. Meanwhile winsome Laura Alexandra Ramos plays the raven-haired, dark-eyed female protagonist and is, for me, the main highlight.
It’s quirky and spiced with subtly amusing bits. The story could’ve gone over-the-edge with a thrill or two, but the writer/director decided to keep the happenings mundane with the (presumed) perception that less is more. There are enough understated insights to make it worth a second viewing down the line.
It runs 1 hour, 23 minutes, and was shot in Los Angeles.
GRADE: B-