Do you have a secret? Is there an aspect of yourself or something you did in the past that you keep hidden from the people you love? What would you do if that secret were suddenly revealed? How would your loved ones treat you differently? Conversely, what if the opposite happened: how would you react if your loved one revealed a shocking secret that challenged how you viewed them? These are just a few of the questions “The Drama,” a provocative new film starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, had me asking myself as I walked out of the theater and for the days after I saw the film.
The film was directed by Kristoffer Borgli and distributed by A24. It follows Charlie and Emma, an engaged couple who are deeply in love, as they sort out the details of their wedding. A few days before they are set to marry, Emma and Charlie join two of their friends for a wine tasting. At the tasting, a secret is revealed that sends them both reeling and shakes the foundation of their relationship.
The first part of this film I want to commend is the structure. Early on in the movie, the revealed secret sets the plot in motion, throwing all the characters for a loop. The problems that pop up from this throughout the runtime slowly build upon each other until they finally come to a head and explode in a final confrontation. I found myself actually feeling anxious and stressed about the outcome of the situation the characters were in, as if I had an actual stake in the plot. Some may not enjoy this feeling, but I did, since it made me feel extremely invested in the story.
Despite the stress, I did find it rather romantic, too. Emma and Charlie obviously love each other intensely, and their interactions, along with the chemistry between the two leads, show it. They’re both very flawed people but still are perfectly matched.
Although the tone is dark, there is comedy sprinkled throughout. A few moments had me laughing out loud. Without getting too much into specifics, the film tackles some heavy topics. It may sound odd but the dark subject matter adds to the humor. It’s awkward and uncomfortable but that makes the situations the characters find themselves in all the more funny.
There is a scene, for instance, where a character tries to film a video on a webcam but keeps getting interrupted by updates on the computer. The context of what exactly they’re filming makes the scene both darker and, in turn, funnier. The subject matter never feels cheap, either; the gravity of the revealed secret is felt throughout the film, from the characters’ horrified responses to the anxiety its fallout causes the audience.
All of the actors in the film are stellar. Zendaya, in particular, impressed me, since I tend to associate her with Disney and Marvel projects, which aren’t inherently bad but require different types of skills from actors. Her performance felt more in line with her role in the edgy HBO drama “Euphoria,” due to its dramatic nature. She nails this deeply layered portrayal of her character.
Robert Pattinson also gave an amazingly frantic performance in which he shows off both his comedic and emotional chops. Alana Haim and Hailey Gates, two relative newcomers to the film world, also stood out. The viewer gets the sense of exactly who their two characters are: the catty, judgmental frenemy and the co-worker who causes problems but can’t actually face them, respectively. I found myself connecting them to people I’ve known myself, which demonstrates how much they understood the archetypes their characters filled and how realistic their performances felt.
The main criticism I have of the film is that I wish it took its subject matter even further. The story plays with many different ideas, introducing small inklings of plot points and character traits. I honestly wish it had gotten even crazier and weirder. It feels just on the cusp of a movie that sticks with you forever, and I think cranking up some of the concepts could have achieved this.
“The Drama” is a gripping movie with solid performances and an engrossing plot that sinks its teeth into the audience and refuses to let go. The comedy springs up when you least expect it, making it even more effective at eliciting laughs and the romance didn’t fail to touch my heart. Despite all this, the most interesting thing the movie offers is the questions it poses to the audience. I’m still asking myself those questions and probably will for days to come. I’m not sure if any of them are supposed to have definitive answers, either.
Go into the movie blind if you can, but it is definitely still worth seeing if you already know the twist. Overall, I would rate this movie an 8/10.
“The Drama” is in theaters now.
