Film: The Drama
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Zendaya
Directed by: Kristoffer Borgli
Duration: 1 hour 46 minutes
Rating: * *
The Drama, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, certainly lives up to its title but not in a way that works to its advantage. There is no shortage of drama here, but what value does it hold when you feel absolutely nothing for the people at its center? At no point do you truly connect with the lead characters, two lovers who are clearly in desperate need of therapy, yet instead of seeking help, they seem intent on making each other’s lives and yours as a viewer, miserable.
The story itself is as exhausting and grating as the harsh midday sun. If the film is trying to make a larger statement about relationships or human behaviour, it is so obscured that it barely registers. As Jim Morrison famously observed, “people are strange” but even then, storytelling demands that we find some way to empathise with its characters. No matter how flawed or even pathetic they may be, there should be a thread that draws us in emotionally. Here, that thread is missing.
Instead, what remains is a lingering sense of indifference, not just toward the central couple, but toward nearly every character in the film. Charlie (Robert Pattinson), a museum curator, meets Emma (Zendaya) in a cafe. Their relationship begins with a lie, as he pretends to share an interest in the book she is reading and quickly escalates into love. A proposal follows, refreshingly devoid of cliche theatrics, replaced instead with an oddly practical moment where he tests her hearing. A wedding is planned. On paper, it all feels conventional, almost mundane.
Things begin to unravel during a seemingly harmless game played over drinks with their friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim), in which each person answers the question, “What is the worst thing you’ve ever done?” Predictably, alcohol loosens tongues and secrets spill out. Charlie admits to cyberbullying in his youth, Rachel recounts locking a child in a closet, and Mike shares an unsettling story involving a dog and an ex. Emma’s confession, however, is surprisingly tame; she recalls a disturbing thought she once had as a child but never acted upon.
Despite the film’s marketing hinging on this “dark secret”, the revelation feels underwhelming, even trivial. If anything, it is the least troubling admission of the group. Yet Charlie fixates on it obsessively. What follows is a downward spiral: he loses sleep, his thoughts become consumed by Emma’s confession, and their relationship begins to deteriorate under the weight of something that barely warrants such intensity. As their wedding approaches, with all the usual preparations in motion, their emotional state becomes increasingly unstable.
Watching this unfold, you can’t help but wish that every single one of them would seek therapy. Their behaviour feels exaggerated to the point of absurdity, raising the question, if this is meant to reflect the average functioning adult, what does that say about the world at large? If this is how an average literate person in America behaves, no wonder the world is where it is today.
The film clearly aims to explore the complexities of human nature and modern relationships, which is a worthwhile ambition. However, it falters in execution. It is not just about what happens, but how it unfolds and The Drama becomes most frustrating in its inability to present this convincingly. You find yourself wanting Charlie to mature, to show some emotional resilience instead of wallowing in self-inflicted turmoil. Similarly, Emma’s characterization lacks consistency, making her actions difficult to grasp or invest in.
Both lead actors bring a certain charm and screen presence to their roles, but even their performances cannot salvage the emotional disconnect at the heart of the film. If Charlie and Emma were to invite you to a party, you would not just decline, you would keep your distance entirely.
