The Drama's horrifying twist will divide audiences |
'Some will be appalled': The Drama's horrifying twist is set to divide audiences
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson's new film about a soon-to-be married couple is a romcom with a disturbing difference. The result is 2026's "first great cinematic conversation-starter".
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson haven't shied away from contentious material in the past, from Zendaya's breakthrough role in Euphoria to Pattinson's role in… well, pretty much everything he's done since the Twilight franchise. But their new film, The Drama, is sure to be the most divisive project to feature either of them. Some viewers will love it, and some will be appalled, despite it being, on one level, a romantic comedy about pre-wedding jitters.
Warning: this article contains major spoilers for The Drama and references to violence which some readers may find distressing
The best way to appreciate The Drama is not to know the details in advance, so don't read on if you want to see it as the film-makers intended. All that the trailers have given away is that Zendaya and Pattinson play a gorgeous young couple, Emma and Charlie, who are a week away from their wedding in Boston when Emma makes an alcohol-fuelled confession. After a few too many wines with their friends Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie), Rachel talks them into revealing the worst things they've ever done. This article will reveal it, too, and while the scene is near the beginning of the film, it might be better not to know it at all – so be warned.
Here it is: Emma says that when she was 15, she planned to take a rifle into her Louisiana high school and murder her classmates. She changed her mind, and no one ever guessed how close she came. But she knows what she wanted to do, and now Charlie knows it, too. Can he go ahead with the wedding? Can he take comfort in the fact that Emma committed no actual crime? Or should he run away from someone who may have lingering homicidal urges while he still can?
The Drama isn't the first film to engage with high-school massacres: notable examples are Gus Van Sant's Elephant (2003) and Lynne Ramsay's We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011). The difference here is that Kristoffer Borgli, a Norwegian writer-director, puts the subject in a film which is fundamentally a comedy, the title notwithstanding. The Drama has a taboo-busting Scandinavian sensibility that recalls the provocative social satires of Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness), Lukas Moodysson (Together), and Thomas Vinterberg (Another Round). But as that Scandi gallows humour has been applied to a film with a US setting and two glamorous blockbuster superstars, it's no surprise that there have already been media reports of a backlash against The Drama, even before its release. The father of one of the victims of the Columbine High School massacre told TMZ that the plot point was "awful".
• 10 of the best films to watch this April
• Project Hail Mary is a 'mind-stretching sci-fi'
• The most shocking win in Oscars history
Viewers will decide for themselves whether the backlash is justified, but the film's risk-taking is a thrill, and it's beautifully made. Some scenes in isolation – especially those before the opening credits – are the stuff of a sparkling, aspirational romcom: Pattinson's character shares his first name, his messy fringe and his taste in eyewear with the hero of Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Pattinson himself has all the diffident English charm of a young Hugh Grant.
Other scenes are the stuff of searing black comedy, and in these it's Haim who stands out, with her furious sarcasm and industrial-strength eye-rolls. Meanwhile, there are sensitive flashbacks that explore why the teenage Emma was drawn to murder, and these are reminiscent of Netflix's award-winning drama on a similar subject, Adolescence.
The question is whether Borgli finds the perfect balance between these different tones. And the answer is: almost, but not quite. The Drama devotes more of its energies to awkward cringe comedy than to the reality of the characters and their feelings. It's ultimately a series of toe-curling, albeit hilarious sketches rather than a wholly convincing narrative, so it's more superficial than its traumatic scenario deserves. For one thing, it's hard to believe that Emma and Charlie would confine themselves to a few faltering chats about her confession, instead of having a proper conversation about it. Still, most people who see The Drama will end up having in-depth debates, even if the characters themselves don't manage it. The first great cinematic conversation-starter of 2026 is here.
The Drama is released in US and UK cinemas on 3 April.
If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week.
For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
How early humans faced a terrifying Ice Age predator
Ella Al‑Shamahi ventures into muddy cave systems to uncover the secrets behind a deadly prehistoric hunt.
Quarterly earnings to shed light on economic impact of war
The major US stock markets open higher despite rising oil prices amid the ongoing war on Iran.
Life after the wildfires in the Rockies
Nature is once again reclaiming the land and tourists are starting to return after the 2024 wildfires in Canada.
Inside the school teaching students to slow down and observe
At the Royal Drawing School, students rediscover drawing as a powerful way to see and experience the world anew.
Young people say they feel lost - What’s happening?
Katty Kay on why large numbers of young adults say that they’re struggling to find purpose in life.
The video game bringing Medieval Europe back to life
BBC Tech Now meets the makers of Total War strategy series to uncover how they bring medieval cultures to life.
Reports of a US peace plan for Iran send oil prices lower
Jon Cheigh at Cohen and Steers gives his take on Wall Street's reaction on a possible ceasefire.
Earth's spectacular and remote 'capital' of lightning
With storms occurring between 140 to 160 nights a year, it's no wonder the area is a world record holder.
Wall street remains volatile after Monday's market rally
Catherine Avery at Concurrent Investment Advisors explains that investors will continue to see a volatile market.
Prehistoric footprints reveal a mother's perilous journey
Fossilised footprints at White Sands National Park in New Mexico reveal an extraordinary human story.
Brent Crude tumbles as Trump trails easing pressure on Iran
Brian Szytel at the Bahnsen Group explains that oil prices dropped in response of President Trump's remarks.
Meet Britain's pudding royalty
The Travel Show meets a family keeping the 18th‑century Aughton Pudding Festival alive.
US stocks open in the red again as energy fears grow
Market Intelligence Strategist Ed Moya warns of the risk of stagflation if energy prices are not contained.
OnlyFans, loneliness, and rise of explicit direct messages
Katty Kay speaks to writer and podcaster Ed Elson about the adult content industry's pivot to direct messaging.
From vineyards to farms, new tech is transforming crops
Tech Now meets the innovators using tech to improve seed, grains and crops for Australia's agricultural industry.
Investors seem to be relatively calm, expert says
Oil prices staying this high could trigger a global recession, warns Main Street Research CIO James Demmert.
Mass Neanderthal murder discovery in Spanish cave
Deep within Spain's El Sidrón Cave, 49,000‑year‑old bones reveal a Neanderthal family's dark fate.
Tech stocks, led by Nvidia, providing relief to markets
Noah Hamman of AdvisorShares says Nvidia seems to be in a strong position amid tech stock volatility.
How the transcontinental railroad changed the US forever
In 1869, two companies connected the east to the west with the United States' first transcontinental railroad.
Markets show mixed signals as Iran war enters third week
Some investors are betting on a short-term war, while others expect a longer-term conflict in the region.