The Drama review: Robert Pattinson and Zendaya prop up provocative marriage film

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Warning: contains spoilers for The Drama, which is in cinemas now.

This new, intense drama from Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli asks: how obvious do warning signs have to be before you can’t ignore them? It takes the familiar themes of romantic comedies and marriage stories to a startling new level, delivering a uniquely unsettling portrayal of pre-wedding anxieties.

The new film, The Drama, stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as a couple preparing to get married in Boston. Like many movies, it features a surprising twist, but unlike films such as The Sixth Sense or Fight Club, it reveals this twist relatively early on. This reveal is genuinely original and unexpected, though the film’s director, Borgli, seems unsure how to proceed with the story after it.

Charlie, played by Pattinson, and Emma, played by Zendaya, have a charming first meeting in a café. Emma is a bookstore employee enjoying a book by the window, and Charlie, the museum director, pretends he’s already read it just to talk to her.

Everything changes quickly as the couple excitedly plans their wedding, including tasting food from caterers. Their friends, Rachel and Mike, share a story about their own wedding planning – they each confessed their biggest mistake before saying ‘I do.’ This leads to a shocking revelation.

The movie ‘The Drama’ hasn’t been heavily promoted; its marketing has depended mostly on the fame of its actors. This limited publicity was intentional, aiming to keep a key plot twist a secret. However, fully discussing what makes the film good requires revealing that twist, so if you want to avoid spoilers, now is the time to stop reading.

Emma has a deeply hidden secret: she once carefully planned a school shooting but stopped right before actually doing it. This revelation understandably makes Charlie question their relationship, and it also severely damages Emma’s friendship with Rachel, who was supposed to be her maid of honor.

Early in the film, Charlie jokes that someone always manages to find humor in his chaotic life – a theme that quickly sets the tone for a fast-paced, comedic story. While the script is a bit obvious and overly proud of its cleverness, it kicks off a whirlwind of funny events. Given the explosive nature of a revelation made by Emma, it’s not surprising that Ari Aster, known for intense films, is a producer. However, despite the potentially serious subject matter, the movie doesn’t offer much meaningful insight or thoughtful exploration.

The Norwegian filmmaker gained recognition for his darkly comedic and thought-provoking films like Sick of Myself and Dream Scenario. These movies explore unusual themes – from the self-obsession of artists to a world where Nicolas Cage shows up in everyone’s dreams.

Like the previous film, ‘The Drama’ has a very dark and biting sense of humor. It brings to mind the work of filmmakers like Todd Solondz, the unsettling family drama ‘Festen,’ and even the thoughtful film ’45 Years’ with Tom Courtenay and Charlotte Rampling. However, while ’45 Years’ explored complex issues of marriage and hidden emotions, ‘The Drama’ seems more interested in causing trouble and being playfully disruptive.

Even if we ignore the discussion about mass shootings, the show’s effort to be a smart and funny look at relationships just doesn’t quite work.

Charlie’s tendency to quote Freud and reference films by Louis Malle feels a bit affected, and the couple’s stylish apartment—complete with houseplants and a spiral staircase—resembles the settings in Nancy Meyers romantic comedies. However, their situation is far more complex than a simple ‘It’s Complicated’ storyline.

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Zendaya and Pattinson are highlights of the film. Zendaya creates a fascinating character by blending the approachable qualities of her role in the Spider-Man movies with the emotional depth she showed in Euphoria. Pattinson is consistently funny and endearing as a frustrated, eccentric British character whose situation becomes increasingly absurd and nightmarish.

Okay, so by the end of the movie, things felt a little shaky, honestly. But even though the story wasn’t as deep as I’d hoped – it felt like it was trying to start arguments more than tell a meaningful story – the actors playing the main characters really saved it. They brought so much heart to their roles, it kept me invested even when the plot felt a bit weak.

The Drama is out now in cinemas.

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Max CopemanApp Editor

Max Copeman is our App Editor, responsible for choosing and preparing all the mobile recommendations and watchlist content. He joined the team in 2021 and is often chatting about movies or soccer.

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2026-04-07 15:06