When a pompous actor tells good girl Alexa that she hasn't lived, she embarks on a bold journey that takes her to mysterious bad boy Johnny. Envious, her shy best friend Ben also dares to pursue Johnny.
Acting
Emmy Rossum's transformation from invisible to incandescent.
Writing
The short-film DNA keeps every scene dangerously tight.
Costume
Alexa's wardrobe arc speaks louder than her dialogue.
Director
Adam Salky
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This began as a 16-minute short film by David Brind that won at Sundance; Salky expanded it to feature length while keeping the original's claustrophobic tension.
Released in 2009, Dare arrived at the precise moment indie cinema was pivoting from 'quirky Sundance' to 'mumblecore authenticity' — it straddles both worlds uneasily, which is exactly why it works.
US
