The Drama Movie Review

Released: 3rd April 2026 (UK and US)

Length: 105 Minutes

Certificate: 15

Director: Kristoffer Borgli

Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie

The romance genre is filled to burst with stories both comforting and heart-rending. Every so often, we get a production that mutates the common premise. The Drama, directed by Norwegian director Kristoffer Borgli, creates a different kind of tension; a chain reaction of dicey events sparked by a single reveal.

In a modern Boston suberb, Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) are engaged to be married and preparations are going great on both sides. A booze-filled double date with friends reveals a shocking secret that puts their relationship on the line and severely damages every social outing that follows. Between constant arguments and tight-lipped obfuscation, will the two of them make it to the wedding day unscathed? The result is complicated and fraught. What makes The Drama work so well is its rapid pacing and all the wild events that unfold. In the film’s opening we see a couple madly in love with each other, but from the moment the secret comes out, the romantic tension gives way to stress, animosity and a slow downward spiral. The film has a potent mix of black comedy and shocking moments that jumps between interactions and locations seamlessly, all culminating in the ceremony itself. The gossip flows endlessly and the characters find themselves in the worst place imaginable. Admittedly, the subject matter at the film’s centre will be controversial and may be considered insensitive by some audiences, but the greater story still pulls you in without any trouble.

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson do a brilliant job of conveying all the pent-up emotions and past trauma. Emma is under a great deal of stress with so much scrutiny from everyone around her, but Charlie goes into meltdown, wracked with doubt and questioning everyone on what to do next. You can feel the agonising erosion that takes place and with every slip of the tongue, the lead-up to the big day only gets worse. This is only exacerbated by the Maid of Honour, Rachel (Alana Haim), who is especially hostile towards Emma as the film goes on. By contrast, Rachel’s husband Mike (Mamoudou Athie) is somewhere in the middle, trying his best to give support while getting caught up in the arguments. These four main performances play off each other so well. Other side actors like Jordyn Curet as the young Emma have a sinister undertone and some of the dialogue is twisted to change the context from pleasant to extremely awkward. Not every member of the cast is so thoroughly developed. Charlie’s family have a miniscule role in the plot; a shame as their perspective could have enhanced the dramatic elements even more.

Standing out from the more static shots of contemporaries, The Drama uses several techniques to boost the impact of its winding narrative. The editing is quick and snappy, swapping between past and present while still allowing information to be teased out gradually. Quick moments of intimacy flash by quickly in the early going, telling us everything we need to know about the main couple and where they stand before degenerating their close bond. You’ll notice that the environments gradually grow and open up as the film goes on which also mirrors the damaging reveals that bubble up to the surface. For the soundtrack, things are quite minimal, only stealing in when Charlie and Emma are alone in their thoughts.

The subversive tension of The Drama makes it stand out from other thrillers while also surprising the viewer at every turn. For those expecting a more romantic story, it will be quite the shock to the system, but for those looking for more unpredictable twists, the film delivers in spite of some underused side characters.

Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)