Picture this: a few days before your wedding, you, your best man, your fiancée, and her maid of honor sit down for dinner. After a few drinks, the group begins confessing the worst things they’ve ever done. As the table goes around revealing its secrets, all eyes land on your fiancée as she starts revealing her secret. After some hesitation, she reveals that she planned a school shooting. Despite the trailers, which hint at a light romantic comedy, The Drama takes a sharp, unsettling turn following the mental spirals these characters undergo.
‘The Drama,” directed by Kristoffer Borgli, follows the characters Emma, played by Zendeya, and Charlie, played by Robert Pattinson. Their performances are outstanding, theatrically conveying the complexities of what it means to be human.
Zendaya continues to prove her range. Known for her roles in Spider-Man and Euphoria, she has built a reputation for balancing vulnerability with intensity. Her portrayal of a complex character who has grown and is trying to prove to the people she loves that she is not as crazy as she sounded when she revealed her secret is phenomenal. There is no doubt that Zendeya’s range in acting has grown throughout her career.
Robert Pattinson, known for his roles in Batman and Twilight, arguably steals the film. Having to act as the soon-to-be husband of such a complex character, who spirals into a mental battle, is shown to viewers not just as a character but as a human being, which was the movie’s exact message.
The plot was unexpected, but it met my expectations for such an alluring trailer. The trailer, which depicts awkward interactions between the bride and groom, raises questions about what is going on with the couple. At first, I thought this was an arranged marriage between two people who did not know each other, which would eventually turn into a cliche romantic comedy. So the surprise of the first fifteen minutes of the movie was definitely a good one.
The cinematography and music are what made the movie great. The uncomfortable music, composed by Daniel Pemberton, plays into the uncomfortableness of the situation and watch. The fast camera pans and shifts in point of view make the movie work from everyone’s perspective, which makes the viewer both agree and disagree with everyone, which is exactly why the movie is such a good watch.
Although ‘The Drama’ is a challenging watch, it is definitely worth the trip to the theater, as it examines the intricacies of what it means to be human. There is no doubt that you will leave the theater asking the person you went with, “What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?”
