by Josh Sewell
The Drama
(Rated R. Contains strong language, sexual content, violence and intense thematic elements. Opens in theaters on April 3.)
It’s tough to talk about writer-director Kristoffer Borgli’s new ultra-dark romcom The Drama in detail without getting into spoilers. Not that the film has some kind of The Sixth Sense-level twist or anything. It’s because the story’s shock value requires experiencing how the horror unfolds in real time. It’s like watching a slow-motion car crash for almost two hours.
The basic premise is simple, but I’ll keep it vague. A few days before their wedding, Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) find their relationship shaken after a drunken, ill-advised game of “what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” with friends (Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie). In the aftermath, everyone involved is forced to reevaluate their relationships with one another, leading Emma and Charlie to question whether the marriage should still take place.
For viewers who don’t mind spoilers, a heads up might be necessary if they think the narrative’s subject matter might be too much for them – namely, the game’s horrifying revelation. I recommend a quick Google search just in case.
For everyone else, I’ll just say your enjoyment of The Drama will mostly depend on how you feel about cringe comedy. Fans of Larry David, Tim Robinson, Nathan Fielder or Ruben Östlund will be in for a toxic treat. However, I’m an anxious person who can’t handle awkward situations or secondhand embarrassment, so sitting through the film was basically my personalized version of hell.
That doesn’t make The Drama a bad movie, however. Zendaya and Pattinson are both excellent, playing against the type of characters moviegoers assume they’re going to see based on prior roles. She’s vulnerable, angry and complicated in ways that women don’t often get to be in this genre. Pattinson, who’s usually unhinged and weird, gets to be a little bit more normal, although he certainly becomes more neurotic and off-putting as the story progresses. At times, he’s even downright pathetic.
Although the film’s central conflict is the sudden downward spiral of Emma and Charlie’s relationship, Borgli unquestionably uses the characters as a metaphorical commentary on an ugly, pervasive aspect of American culture that has transformed the way all of us approach life in the modern era. I can’t elaborate without getting into spoiler territory, but viewers will have a fair idea of where the story is headed after the characters play their disastrous game.
In addition to a shocking premise and brave cast members who eagerly plumb the depths of their often-grotesque roles (especially Haim, a terrific actress whose character is truly loathsome), The Drama features intentionally jarring, rapid-fire editing by Borgli and Joshua Raymond Lee. There’s also an effective, frenzied score from the great Daniel Pemberton (a busy guy considering he also composed the music for Project Hail Mary, which opened just a few weeks ago).
I’m genuinely curious how average moviegoers are going to respond to this one, especially considering the trailers are selling it as a quirky indie romance. That’s certainly an aspect of the plot, but there’s far more there than meets the eye. And boy is it going to make some folks mad.
The Drama is deliberately provoking and – if the critical response is any indication – officially one of the most polarizing films of the last few years. Loud, red-faced cable news pundits are going to have a field day.
It’s fascinating, funny and I’m ultimately glad I watched it. Now I never want to see it again.
(Rated R. Contains strong language, sexual content, violence and intense thematic elements. Opens in theaters on April 3.)
It’s tough to talk about writer-director Kristoffer Borgli’s new ultra-dark romcom The Drama in detail without getting into spoilers. Not that the film has some kind of The Sixth Sense-level twist or anything. It’s because the story’s shock value requires experiencing how the horror unfolds in real time. It’s like watching a slow-motion car crash for almost two hours.
The basic premise is simple, but I’ll keep it vague. A few days before their wedding, Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) find their relationship shaken after a drunken, ill-advised game of “what’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” with friends (Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie). In the aftermath, everyone involved is forced to reevaluate their relationships with one another, leading Emma and Charlie to question whether the marriage should still take place.
For viewers who don’t mind spoilers, a heads up might be necessary if they think the narrative’s subject matter might be too much for them – namely, the game’s horrifying revelation. I recommend a quick Google search just in case.
For everyone else, I’ll just say your enjoyment of The Drama will mostly depend on how you feel about cringe comedy. Fans of Larry David, Tim Robinson, Nathan Fielder or Ruben Östlund will be in for a toxic treat. However, I’m an anxious person who can’t handle awkward situations or secondhand embarrassment, so sitting through the film was basically my personalized version of hell.
That doesn’t make The Drama a bad movie, however. Zendaya and Pattinson are both excellent, playing against the type of characters moviegoers assume they’re going to see based on prior roles. She’s vulnerable, angry and complicated in ways that women don’t often get to be in this genre. Pattinson, who’s usually unhinged and weird, gets to be a little bit more normal, although he certainly becomes more neurotic and off-putting as the story progresses. At times, he’s even downright pathetic.
Although the film’s central conflict is the sudden downward spiral of Emma and Charlie’s relationship, Borgli unquestionably uses the characters as a metaphorical commentary on an ugly, pervasive aspect of American culture that has transformed the way all of us approach life in the modern era. I can’t elaborate without getting into spoiler territory, but viewers will have a fair idea of where the story is headed after the characters play their disastrous game.
In addition to a shocking premise and brave cast members who eagerly plumb the depths of their often-grotesque roles (especially Haim, a terrific actress whose character is truly loathsome), The Drama features intentionally jarring, rapid-fire editing by Borgli and Joshua Raymond Lee. There’s also an effective, frenzied score from the great Daniel Pemberton (a busy guy considering he also composed the music for Project Hail Mary, which opened just a few weeks ago).
I’m genuinely curious how average moviegoers are going to respond to this one, especially considering the trailers are selling it as a quirky indie romance. That’s certainly an aspect of the plot, but there’s far more there than meets the eye. And boy is it going to make some folks mad.
The Drama is deliberately provoking and – if the critical response is any indication – officially one of the most polarizing films of the last few years. Loud, red-faced cable news pundits are going to have a field day.
It’s fascinating, funny and I’m ultimately glad I watched it. Now I never want to see it again.
Grade: B+
Home Entertainment Spotlight
Randy and the Mob
(Rated PG for thematic elements, mild violence, language and momentary smoking. Available on Blu-ray April 7.)
Ray McKinnon and Walton Goggins, two of Georgia’s most celebrated actors, collaborated on the 2002 Oscar-winning short The Accountant and 2007’s Randy & the Mob (shot in nearby Villa Rica). Both are finally hitting Blu-ray for the first time this month, meticulously restored from the original film elements.
Directed and co-written by McKinnon, the Southern caper centers on a good ol’ boy who’s in trouble with gangsters and IRS. It stars McKinnon, Goggins, Lisa Blount, Tim DeKay, Bill Nunn and Paul Ben-Victor, with a special appearance by Burt Reynolds. Bonus features include The Accountant in its entirety and a making-of featurette with cast and crew interviews.
Home Entertainment Spotlight
(Rated PG for thematic elements, mild violence, language and momentary smoking. Available on Blu-ray April 7.)
Ray McKinnon and Walton Goggins, two of Georgia’s most celebrated actors, collaborated on the 2002 Oscar-winning short The Accountant and 2007’s Randy & the Mob (shot in nearby Villa Rica). Both are finally hitting Blu-ray for the first time this month, meticulously restored from the original film elements.
Directed and co-written by McKinnon, the Southern caper centers on a good ol’ boy who’s in trouble with gangsters and IRS. It stars McKinnon, Goggins, Lisa Blount, Tim DeKay, Bill Nunn and Paul Ben-Victor, with a special appearance by Burt Reynolds. Bonus features include The Accountant in its entirety and a making-of featurette with cast and crew interviews.
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com or on BlueSky @joshsewell.bsky.social
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