Dir: Kristoffer Borgli
Cast: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson shine in their finest roles yet, as the most shocking wedding event of the year masterfully balances sensitive and complex real-world themes with wickedly sharp dark comedy
In recent years, Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli has carved out a reputation as one of Europe’s most provocative cinematic voices. Hailing from Oslo, Borgli channels the offbeat Scandinavian sensibilities of auteurs like Ruben Ostlund and Thomas Vinterberg, but with his own twist of discomfort. Over the past five years, he has honed a unique brand of squirm-inducing cinema, first unsettling audiences with the surreal narcissism of “Sick of Myself” (2022). His English-language debut, “Dream Scenario” (2023) starring Nicholas Cage, continued this streak, thrusting Cage’s timid biology professor into the absurd glare of overnight fame and modern cancel culture, all while he remains a passive bystander to the chaos swirling around him.
With his work on “Dream Scenario”, Borgli broke into the American indie scene, enlisting heavyweight producers Larry Knudsen and Ari Aster for his English-language debut. Now, both return to back his second English-language feature, which boasts a higher profile thanks to the magnetic A-list pairing of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. In “The Drama”, Borgli sets his anxious lens on the ultimate pressure-cooker: the wedding day. When A24 snapped up distribution rights yet again, this darkly comic dramedy instantly became one of my most anticipated films for 2026.
A24’s deliberately cryptic trailer hooked me months ago, teasing the film’s central drama without ever tipping its hand. This sly marketing move kept audiences guessing right up to the film’s theatrical debut last Friday. In the spirit of preserving that suspense, allowing audiences to experience the film as the filmmaker intended, I’ll avoid spoiling the pivotal twist that launches the story in its opening act.
What I can reveal is that the film centres on Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson), a couple on the brink of their wedding day. Charlie, a British museum curator in Boston, nervously crafts his wedding speech, recalling their quirky meet-cute: he awkwardly approached Emma in a café, was ignored, then discovered she was deaf in one ear. Emma’s invitation for a do-over led to their first date, setting their story in motion.
Fast forward two years, and with the wedding just days away, Emma and Charlie join best man Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and chief bridesmaid Rachel (Alana Haim) for a tipsy food and wine tasting session. In their drunken stupor, the two couples quite irresponsibly dare each other to confess their darkest secrets. As Mike, Rachel, and Charlie share their own misdeeds, Emma’s hesitant admission stuns the group and even infuriates the judgmental Rachel. In the aftermath, Charlie is left questioning how well he truly knows Emma, and doubts begin to cloud their impending vows.
I worried that Borgli’s leap into more mainstream territory might dull his edge, but he brings his full arsenal of European sensibilities to this shocking yet uproarious black comedy. Working with co-editor Joshua Raymond Lee, Borgli keeps the story’s unsettling realism tinged with surreal flourishes. Their dizzying editing blurs reality, memory, and imagined fears, letting us inhabit both Charlie and Emma’s perspectives and forcing us to question our own empathy and assumptions about the film’s core issue, which I will not reveal to avoid spoilers.
Viewers new to Borgli’s work may be blindsided by the narrative’s sharp turn after the big reveal. As the film plunges into unexpectedly dark territory, it compels us to question, empathize, and judge a marginalized group, all while Borgli laces the tension with biting humour. This bold approach to a weighty, contemporary subject is sure to divide audiences—I witnessed heated debates after my own screening—but Borgli’s fearless injection of Scandinavian sensibility into a star-studded production is nothing short of remarkable.
Zendaya and Pattinson deliver career-best performances, expertly balancing absurdist comedy with sharp social satire. They make Emma and Charlie feel achingly real, drawing us into their emotional orbit and challenging us to empathise with both. While “The Drama” is just the first of several high-profile collaborations for the pair this year—including blockbuster juggernauts “The Odyssey” and “Dune: Part Three”—this film stands as their most daring and dynamic showcase yet.
Zendaya, who also has another “Spider-Man” flick on the horizon, turns in her most layered performance yet. She refuses to plead for forgiveness, instead offering raw honesty and unwavering devotion, expecting those around her—especially Charlie—to accept that she is a changed person. Pattinson, meanwhile, injects a restless energy into Charlie, morphing from anxious intellectual to outwardly devoted partner. Yet as Emma’s revelation sinks in, Charlie’s inability to confront his own flaws or make tough decisions exposes his cowardice. Pattinson shoulders much of the film’s emotional weight, but both leads capture their characters’ fragility through a spectrum of subtle glances and explosive confrontations.
The supporting cast fans the flames of tension, with Alana Haim’s Rachel’s sharp-tongued meddling stoking preconceptions about a thorny issue. Mike’s easy-going nature tempers her bias, but the collision of prejudice and misunderstanding surrounding Emma is what truly ignites “The Drama”.
As satire, black comedy, and a conversation-starter, Borgli’s film is a triumph. It makes for a riotous cinematic experience, creating tension in the air so thick you could slice it, and while the final act could have pushed even further to make its audience wince, it’s hard to imagine a more timely, provocative, or debate-worthy film this year. This is essential viewing.
The Verdict:
Kristoffer Borgli crafts a romantic satire that rattles nerves and stirs deep reflection, daring viewers to confront their own assumptions through a bold and original take on a delicate theme. The film’s sharp humour never loses its footing, anchored by Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, who deliver performances as layered and complex as they are unforgettable.
The Drama is now showing in UK Cinemas
Dan Loves Film 
I am trying not to read about this until we se it – as far too many social media celebrity sites love to talk about the twist…once I see it I look forward to reading your review because they are always insightful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have tried to skirt around the reveal, but I agree that you shoulf avoid as much as you can before you see it
LikeLike