Nerve

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.

Nerve had me hooked from the opening credits. Sebastien Guy has crafted a movie that is achingly beautiful in it's gritty, edgy form. Cinematically, it is a feast for the eyes with camera moves that give us hints along the way. The story is a plausible premise and the characters are well drawn with character arcs that are distinguishable. Sebastien is a master story teller. The music was especially flawless, the attention to detail that drove the entire piece emotionally. Sebastien Guy has created a cinematic wonder, this movie will stay with you. Let's hope this is the first of a long line of films by Sebastien Guy!

Nerve is a new Aussie independent feature that is well worth checking out! It has uncovered great new talent in the film's director and the two leads who play Jakob and Grace. The film is a successful moody, dark take on one man's obsession to discover the identity of his dead wife's lover and is certainly an entertaining ride! Both the cinematography and musical score are fantastic and underpins the narrative fabulously. It is great to see inner city Sydney appear in the film in a gritty, dark way and becoming like another character in the film. Nerve also has a supporting cast featuring well known faces like Gary Sweet and Cameron Daddo but the stand out is Georgina Haig who plays Grace who is luminous on screen and delivers a strong performance through out alongside Christian Clark's Jakob. Following the screenings at this year's Sydney Film Festival, there were some less than positive reviews about the film which was surprising to read, as Nerve overall is bold debut. It is not a flashy, big budget film but a local, quiet achiever that slowly draws you in and keeps you guessing.

Honestly, some reviews go on about this film as if it were a masterpiece directed by Alfred Hitchcock or William Wyler. It's an escargot-paced "thriller" about a man who wants to track down his late wife's lover. The actors are not bad at all, but this is a very weak script with no real pay-off, and the alleged "twist" isn't really much of anything. The characters are fairly one-dimensional as well. The average rerun of "Dr. Phil" would be more entertaining.

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.