One thing that makes A24 famous is its production of films that don’t make viewers feel at ease while watching. One of those films, released this month, is called The Drama. The movie stars two of Hollywood’s most famous actors in a romantic story filled with surprises and betrayals.
The Drama is a romantic movie about two people, Emma and Charlie, who are already in love, only for something unexpected to happen just a week before they get married. Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli directs the movie. The Drama stars Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, and it was released in the United States on April 3.
It is only then that we realize it’s a romantic flick with lots of drama. From the trailer, the protagonists, Emma and Charlie, take photographs in a studio before their marriage, during which they tell each other what they consider beautiful about the other. But people who have already watched A24 films know there is always some hidden darkness behind all this beauty.
Another film, Dream Scenario, produced by A24, is similar to Borgli’s previous work in its distinctive style of exploring psychological issues. Furthermore, The Drama, which was co-produced by Ari Aster, whose films are mainly centered around psychological horror, suggests that the plot of this movie will not concern romance alone.
The film pivots on a confession that changes everything. What Emma tells Charlie mid-film is the kind of secret that is difficult to unhear, for him and for the audience. It recolors every scene that came before it, and saying anything more would genuinely diminish the experience of watching it unfold.
“Hearing and seeing the plot twist was a shocker for me because I did not expect Emma to do what she did,” says Jaden Turek, 11. “The film met my expectations, and I thought Zendaya’s and Pattinson’s performances were really good.”
The Drama becomes an interesting movie because of how the two main characters interact, despite the limitations imposed by the plot. One of the two characters, Charlie, played by Pattinson, has a complicated personality that becomes completely unraveled. Zendaya’s character reacts to everything he does in the movie.
However, it should be noted that the movie also has certain drawbacks. Many viewers believe that, despite posing many questions to the audience, the movie does not provide the same level of satisfaction in answering them. Moreover, in certain scenes, The Drama itself seems unsure about the message it wants to convey to viewers.
“I was expecting the movie to be dramatic and a good romance. It met the dramatic part, but personally, I did not think it met the romantic part,” says Morgan Sayer, 11. “I was definitely not expecting the big plot twist in the story, and yes, it definitely impacted how I felt about the story. Personally, I would not recommend the movie. I didn’t love the movie as much as I thought I would.”
However, the film has also been criticized beyond the entertainment sphere. For instance, one element that prompted criticism from organizations such as March for Our Lives is the inclusion of a confession involving a school shooting. This criticism is understandable, given the potential impact on young audiences. While the movie does not glorify violence, it remains morally ambiguous.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 77% rating, and I think this is highly accurate. This is a good movie, but far from the best. It is still very interesting in my view. Therefore, The Drama is a film worth seeing. If you enjoy thinking about your movies even after they end, then you should watch it.
The Drama is one of those films that likely won’t appeal to everyone. Nevertheless, it has everything fans have come to expect from an A24 film.
Credit: A24 Films