Nerve (2016)With a few name actors, and from the directors of Catfish and Paranormal Activity 3, this one kind of went under the radar. It's a pity it wasn't released as a Black Mirror episode, because it definitely has that feel. The premise is there is a mobile game called Nerve where players are given increasingly outlandish dares, which they must film with their phones, and are rewarded with money for completion, meanwhile others act simply as watchers.
In the form of the players, it satirizes web celebrity. The money, the risk of a criminal record, even the risk of bodily harm, all is secondary to the fame. It might as well be one long music video for Arcade Fire's excellent Creature Comfort.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzwicesJQ7EIn the form of the watchers, it satirizes the anonymous web mob that gets wound up and loses sight of the humans behind the web presence.
I'm not saying it is profound, but it has an idea and with capable directors and the likes of Emma Roberts and Dave Franco, is carried off. An above average episode of Black Mirror is quite a good enough place to be. And the dares have a sufficiently visceral nature at times that I think I can pass it off as horror.
- Slightly Scary