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A24's 'The Drama' Sparks Backlash Over Twist, But the Real Story Is About Relationships
The controversial plot point isn't the point - it's about how much mystery we can endure for love.
Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:04pm
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The glitz and glam of the 'The Drama' press tour belies the film's provocative subject matter and the online backlash it has already sparked.Las Vegas TodayA24's new dark comedy 'The Drama' starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya has sparked backlash online over a shocking plot twist involving a character's past. However, the film is less about the twist itself and more about the complexities of relationships and how much mystery partners can endure for love.
Why it matters
Any movie that compels parents of mass shooting victims to speak out is clearly dealing with provocative subject matter. The online outrage over the twist, before anyone has even seen the film, highlights how the internet can reduce nuanced stories to their most shocking elements, missing the larger points the filmmakers are trying to make.
The details
In the film, engaged couple Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) are having drinks with their married friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim). During the evening, the group decides to reveal their darkest secrets. Emma shockingly admits that as a tween, she had fantasies of carrying out a school shooting, though she never followed through. This revelation sends Charlie into a spiral as he grapples with his fiancée's past and what it means for their relationship.
- The film is set to premiere on April 3, 2026.
The players
Robert Pattinson
An acclaimed actor starring as Charlie in 'The Drama'.
Zendaya
A popular actress playing Emma, Charlie's fiancée, in the film.
Kristoffer Borgli
The writer and director of 'The Drama'.
What they’re saying
“Any movie that compels parents of mass shooting victims to speak out is clearly dealing with provocative subject matter.”
— David Ehrlich, Film critic
What’s next
The film is set to premiere on April 3, 2026, and it remains to be seen how audiences will react to the controversial plot twist.
The takeaway
While the shocking twist in 'The Drama' has sparked online outrage, the film is ultimately more interested in exploring the complexities of relationships and how much mystery partners can endure for love. The internet's tendency to reduce nuanced stories to their most provocative elements risks missing the larger points the filmmakers are trying to make.
