Marking another beautifully shot movie from the production company A24, “The Drama” premiered April 3.

This is director Kristoffer Borgli’s fourth feature film and while, yes, it follows his pattern of writing and directing dark, satirical dramas, this one did not fully hit the mark that a lot of people were hoping for. 

The film follows soon-to-be newlyweds Emma and Charlie – played by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, respectively – in the week leading up to their nuptials.

In the beginning, you’re led to believe that this is a sweet romance, with Charlie discussing the story of how they met – at a coffee shop, where Charlie tries to spark conversation with Emma but she seems to ignore him, when in fact she is deaf in one ear and could not hear him. 

With flashes from past and present, we begin to learn about our main couple.

At a taste test for their wedding menu with their best man, Mike [Mamoudou Athie] and maid of honor, Rachel [Alana Haim], they all go around revealing the worst thing they’ve ever done, prompted to do so by Rachel. 

After everyone else divulges, Emma follows with revealing that she once had planned a mass shooting at her school in Louisiana, which is the reason that she is deaf in her left ear. 

This was teased as the big “twist” of the film leading up to its release, despite the fact that it is revealed at around the 20 minute mark. 

What follows is an inarticulate explanation to her friends and a huge argument between the four.  

With the wedding traditions and last minute details to attend to, Emma and Charlie take this obstacle, seemingly, in stride. They discuss the situation, but Charlie goes on a trip of extreme doubt regarding the rest of his life being tied to Emma, unbeknownst to her. 

Mixing together flashes of the past and present, we learn more about their story as a couple, Emma as a teenager and see as Charlie’s mental state begins to deteriorate. 

“The Drama” is a take on a conversation that is not typically talked about in the rom-com genre – gun violence. Usually, an action movie is easy to connect to gun violence, but a Borgli decided to take his own route and mix it with romance and dark comedy. 

This being the main topic of the movie has – unsurprisingly – caused a major split between audiences’ feelings about it. 

With such a heavy topic to discuss, it is easy to leave the theaters with an uneasy feeling in your stomach – but that might just be your reaction to the three separate scenes where projectile vomiting occurs. 

While the film may not have stuck out with the most hard-hitting plot, the conversational aspect that allows viewers to think and argue on their way out of the theaters – along with a successful cast – made this film less of a dreary commentary on cancel-culture and gun violence as a whole. 

Although there are strong performances from Zendaya, Pattinson and Haim, the character arcs are not all what they should be. With the main pair on opposite ends of the spectrum of “having cold feet,” the chaos that ensues could have been avoided with a long, effective conversation. Haim’s character, Rachel, is a friend that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, and she plays it very well.
This movie is an exploration of a heavy topic that is explosive and tumultuous, and if you’re looking for a long winded debrief on your way out of the theater, this is one to watch. 

“The Drama” is exclusively in theaters now.