The Drama: A Subversive Psychological Roller Coaster Romance

With a title like The Drama, it has to deliver, but the follow up from writer-director Kristoffer Borgli does, and so much more. While ‘Dream Scenario’ proved that he could handle complex characters by putting them to the test in wildly original ways, this film does much of the same, but in a more restrained way, finding the psychological trauma from within to great effect. To that point, it would not have worked nearly as well if not for stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. Delivering arguably career best performances as an engaged couple whose idyllic relationship is shaken to its core as they prepare for their upcoming wedding. Though not quite the romantic comedy some may have believed the film to be, the film borrows a lot from the genre as a jumping off point for a compelling part dark comedy and part psychological thriller hybrid that will take audiences on a mostly uncomfortable roller coaster ride. When you think you may know someone, there is almost always more to that story. Offering up a different kind of love story, perhaps a more real one than the usual fare, it will certainly push one’s notion of love and unconditional love as the once solid ground the couple stood on becomes shaky, leaving both to navigate a series of conflicting thoughts and feelings that would come their way. Along with the aforementioned performances, Borgli’s mastery of tone, and his sharp script, makes it premise that much more effective because of how real it feels.

On the week leading up to their wedding, Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Pattinson) have their relationship, and their lives, turned upside down following the unexpected revelation that Emma nearly participated in a school shooting when she was younger. What came as a shock to Charlie, as well as his best friend Mike (Mamoudou Athie), and his wife Rachel (Haim), during a night out, it was like everything they thought they knew about her had changed. In what was a case of bad timing, this left everyone involved with a lot to process over the leadup to Emma and Charlie’s big day. Setting the tone for the uncomfortable roller coaster that followed, the film is at its best when it peels back the layers from Emma and Charlie through the lens of Emma’s revelation and its impact on their relationship moving forward. Attempting to move forward with their upcoming marriage, their approach did come with some trepidation. Emma, now forced to relive a part of her life that she thought she had left behind, was adamant that she was not who she used to be. She loved Charlie and wanted to marry him, but she was also worried about the truth coming out. Though Charlie wanted to believe that Emma had changed, the more he learned about her and her backstory, the more he struggled to reconciling the person she is with the person she was.

Meanwhile, a younger Emma, bullied at school and alone a home, gravitated towards guns and gun culture as a means to try and make sense of what was happening. Depressed and looking for somewhere to belong, she felt empowered by being part of a like-minded community that she saw herself in. From there, it became her identity as she embraced the lifestyle, the look, and the music, becoming intimately acquainted with guns and their firepower. After painstakingly putting a plan together to shoot up her school, her plan found itself pre-empted by a similar shooting that would rally her schoolmates against guns, giving Emma a new cause to rally around. On the other hand, Charlie still loved Emma and wanted so hard to believe in the person he was marrying, but he couldn’t stop thinking of her secret and how it caused him to perceive her differently. In spite of this, he attempted to push forward and try to keep it together for the sake of their wedding. However, that pressure would only cause him to further unravel as their big day inched closer and closer. Similarly, Rachel and Mike began to unravel themselves as they processed the news. The maid of honor and the best man respectively, they were unsure about those duties moving forward, as Rachel proved to be a major wildcard in this scenario. Growing visibly uncomfortable in his personal and professional lives, Charlie’s brave face barely covered up his inner conflict.

Stumbling their way to the finish line, fear and paranoia took over as Emma and Charlie were in the middle of final preparations for their wedding. Drifting further apart, Emma’s past continued to be the elephant in the room as their primary concern was to make it through unscathed. However, their actual wedding became a perfect storm of dysfunction, as their insecurities were out in the open for everyone to see and their stumbles over the course of the week caught up to them in epic fashion. When it appeared that all hope may be lost, against all odds, perhaps they had a chance. Ending on an open note, the film leaves Emma and Charlie’s fate open to interpretation. Considering everything that has happened, in spite of their flaws, one can’t help but want them to stay together. That being said, an aura of mystery still remains as to Emma’s true state of mind.

As mentioned, an excellent combination of writing and acting, the dialog and perpetual character turmoil made for an uncomfortable yet engaging watch that feels real. The specifics of the subject matter will undoubtedly not sit well with some audiences but, that aside, is a terrific two-part character study that works because of the tone established by Borgli, subverting romcom conventions, and spectacular performances from Zendaya and Pattinson. Their chemistry sells the film’s central dynamic of a couple put to the test, with each having their own tribulations to overcome. The arc of Emma and Charlie’s relationship is the best part of The Drama,  offering up plenty of psychological drama. Zendaya, as Emma, provides a performance within a performance, if she is to be believed. Playing both side of the coin, she shows great range in depicting the fracturing of Emma, as both her past and present lives bleed into one another. Regardless, she loved Charlie and wanted to marry him, thinking that marriage will somehow be the key to minding the gap between them. Pattinson, in particular, has never been better as Charlie. Balancing so many conflicting emotions within his performance, the trauma and gradual unravelling of the character over the course of the film is just a testament of his ability, as he pulls audiences in and doesn’t let go.

All in all, The Drama is a different romance tale that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats off the strength of strong writing and spectacular performances from Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.

still courtesy of VVS Films

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.