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 (051726)
The Drama follows a young couple, played by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, whose
promising relationship is threatened when a dark secret emerges. The film was
deceptively marketed as a light, fun wedding film in some previews, in fact this
film might have some of the most misleading trailers since Donnie Darko.
However, despite these playful marketing cues, the film soon shifts into very
disturbing and unsettling dramatic territory. If someone is planning a wedding
or is about to be in one, they may frankly want to skip it.
Directed by the Norwegian-born filmmaker Kristoffer Borgi, who is known for
making critically acclaimed but low-grossing indie films such as the
made-in-Norway Sick of Myself (2022) and Dream Scenario (2023). The latter being
one of Nicholas Cage’s best recent films. The film was heavily influenced by
Lars von Trier’s Melancholia, which features a memorable wedding scene, and The
Passion of Anna, which is also about a relationship threatened by the revelation
of secrets. The director made the whole cast watch both films to see what he was
aiming for, and this partially explains why the film has a much more European
feel than an American one. But the film never gets close to rising to the level
of the best Ingmar Bergman films like Wild Strawberries or
Persona.
The Drama was released by A24, a studio that has been almost as critically
acclaimed and successful today as Miramax was in the 80s and 90s. The studio
specializes in producing and distributing smart, low to mid-budget art films.
Some of their most important films included Moonlight (2016),
The Lighthouse
(2019), Uncut Gems (2019),
Past Lives (2023),
The Brutalist (2024), and
Marty Supreme (2025).
The Drama is more mainstream than most A24 films. It has been
one of the studio’s biggest hits, and so far, it has grossed to date 122 million on a
28-million-dollar budget.
The Drama is a fine showcase for the considerable skills of it's two leads. Zendaya Maree
Stoermer Coleman, seems to be on almost every film and magazine cover these
days. She is probably best known for starring in the Emmy award-winning Euphoria
(2019-2026), which is ending this year (I may review the final season on this
website). But she has also found success in both lower-budget films like
Challengers
and this film, as well as high-profile franchise films like the Dune and the
Spider-Man: Homecoming series. Her on screen sweetheart Robert Pattinson, made his name in the poorly written,
mediocre but hugely popular Twilight (2008-2012) series. He was also involved in
more challenging, lower-profile films, such as High Life (2018).
The Lighthouse
(2019) and
Tenet (2020). But he was surprisingly good in
The Batman (2022),
which earned him both critical praise and strong box-office numbers.
The film starts with a cute meet in a bookstore. Pattinson’s character, Charlie,
starts a conversation with Emma, a woman who is reading a book in the store,
apparently trying to mind her own business. Charlie tries to connect with her by
talking about the book, which he claims is one of his favorites. But he is put
off at first because he thinks she is totally ignoring her, but later he finds
out it is only because she is deaf in one ear.
They eventually hit it off, begin dating, and we get some typical, sunny
romantic scenes as they get to know each other. Yet, even early on, the movie
begins to shift away from standard rom-com conventions. Eerie sounds in the
background subtly signal that something more sinister might be happening beneath
the surface. Emma later learns Charlie never read the book, revealing their
relationship began with a lie.
The couple seems well-suited to each other, and they plan to marry. But right
before the wedding date, they make a big mistake when they have dinner with a
married couple, Rachel (played by Haim vocalist Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou
Athie). They all get drunk, and they play a dangerous game in which each person
has to share the worst thing they have ever done. Their friend, Mike, admits
that one time when he was afraid of a dog, he used his girlfriend as a human
shield, which is a very George-Costanza-like action. While this is a pretty bad
secret, it’s nothing compared to Emma’s.
I won't reveal the secret Emma confesses because it would completely spoil the
film. But it is so terrible that it jeopardizes the whole romance, and it makes
the other three question Emma’s sanity, and they may never trust her or see her
the same way again. When she wakes up the next day with a hangover, she wonders
if the revelation cost her the best thing going on in her life. After the
initial shock wears off, Charlie tries to put it behind him, but a series of bad
things happen at the wedding ceremony, which build on earlier events in the
worst possible way.
The film has way above-average acting, gorgeous cinematography, great dialogue,
and some of the year’s best cinematic conversations. At times, audience members
can amuse themselves by guessing what characters are leaving out because their
bodies are always communicating. But even with all that, The Drama still ends up slightly missing
its mark.
The film totally had me for about 75 percent of the run time, though I found the ending
slightly underwhelming. It’s not exactly bad; after all the buildup, I was
simply hoping for a more visually thrilling, tragic, or memorable conclusion.
Still, if it's still in theatres, it's probably worth seeking out, and it’s
definitely worth seeing on streaming (it just debuted on multiple channels).
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