A24's "The Drama": A Deep Dive into Plot, Controversy, and Reception

The A24 film "The Drama," starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, premiered on April 3, sparking extensive discussion across its plot, marketing, and critical reception. Directed and written by Kristoffer Borgli, the movie's promotional campaign, initially centered on a romantic wedding theme, later drew significant criticism for concealing a central plot point involving a past school shooting plan by Zendaya's character. The film ultimately received mixed reviews, with strong lead performances acknowledged, but polarized opinions on its controversial themes and comedic approach.

Film Overview and Plot

"The Drama" centers on Emma Harwood (Zendaya), a bookstore clerk, and Charlie Thompson (Robert Pattinson), a British museum director, as they prepare for their wedding. The narrative introduces a pivotal element early on: Emma's confession of having planned a school shooting during her teenage or tween years.

She reportedly practiced shooting, recorded videos, plotted to kill classmates, and even brought a gun to school. This plan, however, was not executed, interrupted by a nearby shooting. Following this revelation, Emma became involved in gun control activism.

This confession significantly influences the film's subsequent tone. Charlie struggles to process the information, leading to an existential crisis and vivid hallucinations. Charlie’s best man, Mike (Mamoudou Athie), and Emma’s maid of honor, Rachel (Alana Haim), are present for the reveal. Rachel expresses strong disapproval, while Mike supports his wife but advises Charlie against proceeding with the wedding.

Despite the shocking revelations, Charlie and Emma proceed with the wedding ceremony. The film concludes with Charlie exhibiting increasingly erratic behavior at the reception, culminating in an offensive speech and a physical altercation. The movie ends ambiguously, with Charlie and Emma encountering each other at a diner, where they reintroduce themselves as strangers.

Marketing Strategy and Public Reactions

A24's marketing strategy for "The Drama" was initially built entirely around a romantic wedding theme. Promotional activities included:

• Zendaya's press tour wardrobe incorporating a "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" motif.
• A mock engagement announcement published in the Boston Globe.
• The launch of a dedicated wedding-themed website, charlieandemmaforever.com.
• A one-day wedding chapel in Las Vegas, featuring a surprise appearance by Zendaya.
• Film posters that progressively evolved from depicting the couple in a positive, romantic light to showing a character battered and bruised.

This strategy faced intense criticism for largely omitting the sensitive school shooting plot detail from initial promotional materials. Journalists attending advance screenings were reportedly instructed to avoid revealing this crucial plot point.

Organizations such as March for Our Lives and families of gun violence victims, including Tom Mauser, whose son was a victim of the Columbine massacre, publicly condemned the film and A24. Mauser described the film's premise as "awful" and expressed disgust. Jackie Corin, co-founder of March for Our Lives and a survivor of the 2018 Parkland shooting, characterized the film as "an inevitable evolution in storytelling" but stressed that gun violence in schools should not be treated merely as a dramatic device. Corin noted that while art can deepen public understanding, it can also simplify and distort reality, particularly when tonal choices are made. Mia Tretta, a survivor of a 2019 high school shooting, stated that:

"A character planning a school shooting isn’t something that should be joked about."

March for Our Lives described A24's marketing as "deeply misaligned" with the film's subject matter, questioning the intent of conversation when a school shooting is treated lightly or ironically. The organization also raised concerns that the involvement of actors like Zendaya and Robert Pattinson could inadvertently contribute a "cool factor" to the concept of planning a school shooting, calling for actors to use their platforms responsibly. March for Our Lives suggested A24 acknowledge public reaction and potentially host discussions with the director and actors to facilitate a productive dialogue about gun violence. A24 did not provide comment to IndieWire regarding the matter.

Online speculation and pre-release backlash on platforms like Reddit also emerged regarding the plot twist, leading some commenters to state they would not watch the film.

Director's Past and Thematic Interpretation

Further controversy arose when a 2012 essay by director Kristoffer Borgli, discussing a past May-December relationship, circulated online. A24 and Borgli did not provide public comments on these reports.

Thematic analyses suggest "The Drama" explores relationship dynamics, trust, and the complexities of unconditional love, rather than focusing primarily on gun violence. Emma's confession serves as a catalyst to examine the limits of understanding and acceptance within a relationship, prompting questions about the extent of mystery individuals can tolerate in a partnership and the role of perception versus reality. Writer-director Kristoffer Borgli stated that audience reactions are valid and encouraged diverse interpretations. Zendaya commented on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" that the film is difficult to categorize by a single genre, suggesting "drama" might be fitting, and hoped viewers would experience the twist without prior spoilers.

Critical Reception

"The Drama" received mixed reviews from critics, holding a Rotten Tomatoes score fluctuating between 80% and 85%. Critics widely acknowledged the quality of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson's lead performances. Zendaya's portrayal was described as "quietly powerful" and "restrained," while Pattinson's was lauded as a "career-best performance" and a "manic roller coaster."

Reviews included varied descriptions:

• Positive/Neutral: "Darkly funny, yet explosively honest" (Deadline), "imperfect, controversial, and fascinating" (CBC), "spiky, ingenious, tasteless," and a "provocation" (The Guardian), "cringe comedy" (Mashable), "hilarious in that cruel, keen way" (Empire Magazine), "most uncomfortable film of the year" (The Independent), and "bold" and "brash" (USA Today). Critics noted the film's willingness to engage with controversial American topics.
• Negative: "Repulsive, one-star mess" (The Australian), a "torturous tone-deaf joke" (Nick Schager, The Daily Beast), and a "repugnant, tasteless surprise" (Odie Henderson, The Boston Globe). Some critics questioned the film's harshness towards its characters and suggested it lacked investment in them.

The film has been described as an "anti-rom-com" due to its distinct focus on chaos, discomfort, and emotional impact.

Box Office Performance

In its opening weekend, "The Drama" achieved $14 million domestically and $13.6 million internationally, accumulating a global total of $28 million. This figure notably matched its reported production budget. Experts suggested that the public's positive perception of Zendaya and Pattinson contributed significantly to the film's amplified public interest.

Cast and Production

"The Drama" was produced by Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen (Square Peg), Kristoffer Borgli and Tyler Campellone (Dilemma Films), in collaboration with A24.

The esteemed cast includes:

• Zendaya as Emma Harwood
• Robert Pattinson as Charlie Thompson
• Mamoudou Athie as Mike
• Alana Haim as Rachel
• Hailey Gates
• Zoë Winters
• Anna Baryshnikov

The film received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association for strong language, sexual content, and instances of violence, addressing adult themes of betrayal and conflict. Its release is considered a significant career choice for both lead actors, representing a project perceived as riskier and more complex than typical franchise roles.