Norwegian film The Drama starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson about a couple’s wedding crisis after a shocking secret
Consensus Summary
The Drama is a controversial A24 film directed by Kristoffer Borgli starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as a couple whose wedding is derailed when Emma reveals she once planned a school shooting as a teenager. The film’s twist centers on Emma’s past with her father’s rifle, a secret that triggers a psychological unraveling for Charlie and fractures their friend group. Both sources agree on key details like the film’s April 2 release, Emma’s age (30), and the setting of Boston and Louisiana, but differ in tone—ABC frames it as a darkly funny thriller with layered satire, while The Guardian emphasizes its provocative yet clumsy handling of gun violence. The Guardian highlights backlash from survivors of school shootings, including quotes from Columbine and Parkland victims, while ABC focuses on the film’s stylistic choices and performances. Contradictions arise in how each source interprets Borgli’s intent, with ABC seeing nuance in his critique of American culture and The Guardian calling the portrayal of Emma’s youth ‘offensive.’ Both agree the film is a bold, divisive project but diverge on whether its risks pay off.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The film is directed by Kristoffer Borgli and produced by A24
- Zendaya stars as Emma, a 30-year-old deaf woman who reveals she once planned a school shooting as a teenager
- Robert Pattinson plays Charlie, Emma’s fiancé who unravels emotionally after the revelation
- The film’s controversial twist involves Emma’s past with a rifle, tied to gun violence in the US
- The Drama premiered in cinemas on April 2, 2024
- Emma’s secret is revealed during a game of ‘What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?’ with their best friends
- Emma’s father’s rifle is referenced as part of her teenage planning, though she never carried it out
- The film’s setting includes Boston, Massachusetts, and Louisiana (Emma’s hometown)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The film is described as a ‘darkly funny’ adult thriller reminiscent of 80s/90s Hollywood dramas
- Borgli’s prior films include *Sick of Myself* (2023) and *Dream Scenario* (2023), both critical of influencer culture and cancel culture respectively
- The film’s ending is called ‘unusually cheesy’ and ‘oddly empathetic’ by ABC, contrasting with Borgli’s usual provocative style
- ABC notes Borgli’s ‘European misconception of US culture’ in how the film handles race and violence
- The article mentions Zendaya’s ‘cool, inscrutable ambiguity’ and Pattinson’s ‘shapeshifting performances’
- ABC references a poster of Ingmar Bergman adorning Emma and Charlie’s living room as a clue to the film’s psychological intensity
- The article suggests the film’s tone shifts from ‘jet-black comedy’ to ‘vicious emotional warfare’
- ABC describes the film’s hallucinatory editing and Daniel Pemberton’s ‘uneasy, 70s psycho-drama score’
- The film’s trailer and press tour sparked meta-discussions about Zendaya’s rumored marriage to Tom Holland
- Zendaya’s wardrobe in interviews darkened to reflect the film’s darkening plot
- The Guardian highlights a TMZ headline citing a recent American tragedy as ‘spoiling’ the film’s premise
- The article quotes Tom Mauser (Columbine victim’s father) and Mia Tretta (school shooting survivor) condemning the film’s handling of gun violence
- Jackie Corin (Parkland survivor) states the film’s tone may feel ‘jarring’ to audiences affected by gun violence
- The Guardian notes Borgli’s 2012 essay about his relationship with a high school student when he was 26, referencing a flashback scene
- The film’s teenage Emma is portrayed by Jordyn Curet, with the Guardian noting her lack of resemblance to Zendaya’s character
- The Guardian criticizes the film’s portrayal of Emma’s youth as ‘clumsy’ and ‘borderline offensive,’ particularly gangsta rap posters in her room
- The article details Emma’s ‘narcissistic’ shift to gun safety activism after abandoning her shooting plan
- The Guardian mentions the film’s ‘compression chamber’ of time leading up to the wedding, with a focus on the wedding scene as the climax
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC describes the film as a ‘traditional romantic comedy’ with dark twists, while The Guardian calls it a ‘psychological unraveling with a surrealist touch’
- ABC praises Borgli’s ‘complex hand’ in critiquing personal branding and social capital, but The Guardian argues his approach is ‘ahistorical to a distracting degree’
- The Guardian states Emma’s secret is ‘not justified’ by the film, while ABC frames it as a ‘provocative’ and ‘unexpected’ plot device
- The Guardian quotes survivors condemning the film’s handling of gun violence, but ABC does not mention specific backlash from victims’ families
- ABC highlights Borgli’s ‘European misconception of US culture’ as a deliberate critique, while The Guardian implies it may be an unintentional flaw
Source Articles
This controversial rom-com starring Zendaya is one of the best movies of the year
On the surface, A-listers Zendaya and Robert Pattinson's new film seems like a regular rom-com. That's exactly what director Kristoffer Borgli wants you to think....
The Drama: sex, secrets and that gobsmacking twist – discuss with spoilers
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s dark dramedy is a stylish acting showcase, but does it do justice to its weighty themes? Ever since its first trailer dropped – and, on certain corners of Reddit, even b...