The Drama: Review
Think you know your partner? Think again as you watch The Drama
A24’s deceptive, highly anticipated Zendaya and Robert Pattinson starrer The Drama is a unique exploration of romance and relationships. Funny, thought-provoking and beautifully chaotic, it hits all the right spots.
Written, edited and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama is his version of a twisted rom-com. Emma and Charlie, an engaged couple, experience a disruption in their wedding week when Emma unveils a troubling truth about her past. With a perfectly cast supporting ensemble of Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie and Hailey Benton Gates, the film unravels with intensity. If you’re looking for a thriller film masked as a light-hearted romance, The Drama is for you! There’s dramatic flair in every scene; whether it’s the flashbacks, the big reveal, or just how it’s shot, it’s sure to give you a good dose of awkwardness and second-hand embarrassment through the screen.
Subverting viewer expectations (in the best way)
Borgli’s The Drama holds your attention by making every scene a sum of its parts. With an incredible background score that accompanies every twist or how the camera frames its characters in tight-knit close-ups, giving a sense of unease, the film has you hooked from the very start. What starts off as any other rom-com with a meet-cute quickly turns into what feels like pre-wedding jitters turned into a slow-burn thriller film. An up-close and personal portrait of a couple’s feelings for each other is at the centre of this film; it asks its audience questions about relationships, dealbreakers and how much one is willing to look past the name of love.
Robert Pattinson and Zendaya in The Drama
With a rather typical rom-com build-up and character tropes, The Drama manages to throw you off early on and keeps that feeling intact in the rest of its runtime. Amazing performances by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as the leads make the film a great watch, despite its hard-to-see, nail-biting scenes. What stands out the most about the film is that it feels like a car crash you can’t look away from, and while it’s more tension than comedy after a certain point, the high-strung tone of the film is never once lost. A consistent attention grabber and equal parts entertaining, it’s not your usual love story.
Not your average love story…
The Drama not only cordially invites you to this grand wedding but is also accompanied by social commentary once the secret of Emma (Zendaya) is out: a moral debate about what is right or wrong and who gets – or takes – the power to judge it. The film asks the audience to consider how to weigh actions and thoughts when morality is questioned. With a balance of comedy, romance, social criticism, and thrilling yet awkward moments, the film takes you on a journey along with the leading couple.
DJ mishaps, histrionics between the bride and her bridesmaid, the groom getting cold feet last minute and incredibly uncomfortable wedding photoshoots – there’s a lot to unpack but it’s all expertly woven through a tightly managed 1h45. Revealing, personal and messy to say the least, this is much more than just a story about a fighting couple.