In a crazy twist, The Drama is indeed not a drama. The Drama is a dark comedy that strides the finest line between serious and camp. It follows an engaged couple whose wedding week goes off the rails when a bizarre secret comes to light.
I had no clue what to expect from this film. Full of complex themes, uncomfortable tension and romantic comedy elements, The Drama is one of the more niche projects to hit the big screen this year. It’s a ride with a very uncertain trajectory and unexpected turn of events, but ultimately the online hype and buzz did this film a major disservice. All the talk about there being a mind-blowing element of this film that was hidden from the marketing had me eagerly anticipating something that would elevate the film to another level. But unfortunately that never came, as what I understood as being a core part of the story setup turned out to be the “reveal” people were generating hype over. It’s disappointing because I feel like if I was to take this film at face value without any preconceived ideas, I’d have enjoy it… instead I was following a crescendo and waiting for a climax that never fully hits.
That’s not to say this narrative is void of tension; there’s a very weird and uncomfortable undertone that spans most scenes, putting you on edge and leaving you uncertain of what’s in store for the characters. I wouldn’t go so far as to say the narrative is gripping, but it’s certainly interesting in a surface-level way. So much of that tension is driven by chaotic cinematography and erratic sound design, with a sharp score to boot. The chaos of the score and cinematography is the most effective element of the film in conveying emotion. It creates a level of unease that otherwise wouldn’t be evoked anywhere outside of the two lead performances.
Among all that tension there is the comedic element that stems from the uncomfortable, and at times campy, nature of what’s happening on screen. There’s not many moments that are outright hilarious, just scenes that are uncomfortable enough to be funny. They’re spread quite well to where I was never bored, but that leads into the film’s pacing. There’s almost no clear structure to this film and it’s a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand it helps with the chaotic nature of the narrative, but on the other hand it makes it hard to latch onto the characters and get fully invested in the story.
My greatest praise when it comes to this film is the performances. Both Robert Pattinson and Zendaya knock it out of the park with their duo of quirky performances. They both lean heavily into the awkward, uncomfortable nature of their relationship, selling us on the chaos unfolding in their lives and their characters’ questionable reactions. They share a remarkable amount of chemistry, which is essential for this film to work and for its emotional punches to land. In supporting roles, Alana Haim (Rachel) and Mamoudou Athie (Mike) are fantastic additions. Their characters are strange, to say the least, and they enhance the odd, tense and uncomfortable nature of the film with subtle but honed-in performances.
In the end, The Drama isn’t the type of film you recommend to everyone, and I’d go so far as to say it’s not the type of film you could watch or enjoy twice. The climax and resolution feels empty, which is salvageable on a first viewing because of the tension throughout, but when you know what’s coming I can’t see a rewatch being worth it, and for that I have to dock it points. Despite offering stellar performances and unique cinematography, this dark comedy is fine at best.
4.9/10
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