The Drama (MA) – 105 minutes

What is the worst thing you have ever done?

The answer to that pointed question, on the cusp of a wedding, changes everything.

British museum director Charlie Thompson (Robert Pattinson) is with his fiancé, bookstore clerk Emma Harwood (Zendaya).

They are enjoying the company of his best mate Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Mike’s wife, Rachel (Alana Haim), when Rachel prevails upon Mike to reveal his story.

He reluctantly agrees to do so only if the other three also come clean about the worst thing they have done.

It is Emma’s truth that shocks everyone.

She was 15 at the time and, so as not to spoil the surprise, all I will say is that it involved her father’s gun.

The impact is immediate and Charlie begins to spiral.

Try as Emma does to put her revelation behind them, Charlie and Rachel simply can’t let go and it adversely affects wedding preparations.

No longer are Charlie and Emma the happy, playful couple they were before the incident.

The weight on their shoulders is obvious. Awkwardness prevails.

There is even doubt about the nuptials proceeding.

Suffice to say, the admission spawns bad and inappropriate behaviour.

What was meant to be the best day of their lives becomes nothing short of hellish.

I felt like a tightly wound spring watching The Drama, which is true to its name.

Tension begats tension and then more tension.

That is a nod to the cleverness in the scripting and execution by writer and director Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario).

I found myself heavily invested.

Much of that is also due to the excellent performances of Robert Pattinson and Zendaya.

It is not only what they say in character, but it is in the looks on their faces and the way in which they carry themselves, leading up to and after the disclosure.

Their “heaviness” is on show for all to see.

Alana Haim plays the maid of honour, Rachel, as intense and unforgiving.

In contrast, as Mike, Mamoudou Athie is singularly unsuccessful in trying to rein in Rachel. He, too, wears his unease like a blanket.

The Drama’s production values are strong. I speak of the sets and settings, both domestic and public, and the outstanding cinematography by Arseni Khachaturan.

The latter well captures the distress and chaos that form the lion’s share of proceedings.

So, it is a movie I commend and highly recommend.

I leave you with this, which you will only be able to address if you see the film.

Given what goes down, is the ending appropriate? I can envisage a very different one.

Truth be told, the answer lies in whether you are a half full or half empty kind of person.

Rated MA, The Drama is a film of substance and scores an 8 out of 10.