Available on 4K UHD this week is writer/director Kristoffer Borgli’s provocative dark comedy, The Drama, starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya.
Set two years after their awkward first encounter, Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are a happy couple preparing for their upcoming wedding. During a dinner with friends Mike and Rachel while sampling their wedding menu, the conversation shifts to everyone confessing the worst thing they’ve ever done. The discussion is sparked after Charlie and Emma witness their wedding DJ openly using heroin in public. When it’s Emma’s turn, she reveals a shocking secret from her past: as a student, she brought a weapon to school and intended to carry out a mass shooting.
The confession leaves everyone at the table stunned. Rachel, whose cousin was permanently injured in a school shooting, is especially devastated, while Charlie is forced to question whether he truly knows the woman he is about to marry.
From that point on, The Drama explores the emotional fallout of a single life-altering revelation. Charlie struggles to reconcile the compassionate, loving woman he knows with the horrifying intentions she once harbored, while Emma finds herself increasingly isolated, even by those closest to her. The film carefully examines themes of guilt, forgiveness, identity, and whether someone can truly escape the darkest chapter of their past.
Despite being marketed as a dark or black comedy, The Drama contains surprisingly little humor. Instead, it unfolds as an intelligent, emotionally charged character study that refuses to offer easy answers. I went into the film knowing nothing about Emma’s secret, and the reveal was every bit as shocking for me as it was for the characters on screen. That sense of unease appears to be exactly what Borgli intended.
While its subject matter will undoubtedly make it a challenging watch for some viewers, The Drama is a bold, thought-provoking film that tackles difficult themes with confidence. Anchored by a compelling performance from Zendaya and strong work from Pattinson, it’s a film that lingers long after the credits roll.
Bonus features:
- Commentary with Costume Designer Katina Danabassis, Production Designer Zosia Mackenzie, & Co-editor Joshua Raymond Lee
- “Unpacking the Drama” Making-of Featurette
- Wardrobe & Camera Test with Commentary by Katina Danabassis
- “Relationship Hotline” Promo
- Charlie & Emma Wedding Video
- Set of six collectible postcards illustrated by Kristina Tzekova
