Review of A24's Dark Wedding Comedy 'The Drama' Starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson

A24's film 'The Drama,' directed by Kristoffer Borgli, is a dark comedy that examines wedding rituals and relationship facades. The movie features Zendaya as Emma and Robert Pattinson as Charlie, a couple preparing for marriage. During a caterer meeting with friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim), Emma reveals a disturbing secret from her youth: she nearly carried out a mass shooting at age 15. This disclosure creates tension as the wedding approaches, forcing Charlie to reassess their relationship. The narrative critiques societal reactions to gun violence and explores themes of performance in relationships. Borgli, who is Norwegian, uses the premise to question assumptions about who might commit violent acts. The film includes flashbacks with Jordyn Curet portraying a younger Emma. While the concept is provocative, the review notes that Emma's character lacks depth, particularly regarding her racial identity, and is often filtered through Charlie's perspective. Zendaya's performance is described as restrained, and the screenplay avoids addressing how race influences Emma's experiences. The film is compared to her role in Luca Guadagnino's 'Challengers,' which similarly overlooks racial context. Despite these shortcomings, 'The Drama' offers engaging material for post-viewing discussion. The review was published on NPR's website on April 3, 2026.