Following a short December teaser, the official trailer for A24 Studios' “The Drama,” directed by Kristoffer Borgli, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, was released in February.
The pair portray Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson, an engaged couple approaching their wedding date.
Back in November 2024, there was buzz surrounding “The Drama” after filming notices were posted across Boston University’s campus.
Filming on campus lasted about six weeks, causing excitement among students as the film features two of Hollywood’s biggest stars at the moment.
“They’re like a mystery somewhere,“ Emma Burke, a BU student said for The Daily Free News. “It’s interesting to watch people get excited about them."
Initial marketing for the film drew audiences in. A24 has created commotion around the release by using wedding culture as promotional material.
By using a fake engagement announcement and Polaroid photo “Save the dates” of Zendaya and Pattinson, the film has already been praised for its advertising.
“It’s such a smart way to virally market a movie and to get people outside the box engaged with your storytelling,” Jason Hellerman of nofilmschool, said.
Outside of social media, A24 has created a website for the film resembling that of a real wedding. Down to dress code, phone policy and a menu, the site looks like a real engaged couple.
Character details are found throughout the website and social media pages, revealing Harwood’s employment at a bookstore and Thompson’s as a museum director.
It is described that the two have lived in New England for a while and have been in a relationship for two years.
For months, all audiences knew about the film was that it would follow an engaged couple planning their wedding, and many assumed it would be a romantic, lighthearted film.
Following the official trailer, it is clear that there are more thrilling elements than initially meets the eye.
The trailer initially presents the excited couple during the week leading up to their wedding, as they practice dances, plan speeches and talk about their relationship with friends.
About halfway through, the two are talking to another couple, portrayed by Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie, who suggest they go around the table and admit the worst thing they have ever done.
The group is laughing, sharing seemingly lighthearted stories until Harwood shares her secret. The clip cuts before audiences can hear and the room is clearly uncomfortable, stunned by her story as Haim shouts an obscenity in shock.
The rest of the trailer has a more thrilling, mysterious energy as Thompson loses trust in Harwood, building more suspense around her secret.
A clip is included of him revising what seems to be his speech, first deleting the line, “you’re the kindest person I’ve ever met.” Eventually, he removes entire paragraphs.
The trailer becomes very intense very quickly, showing arguments, a car crashing into a tree and Harwood brandishing a knife in Thompson’s face.
Left with questions, excited viewers have taken to the trailers’ comment section to praise the unexpected thrilling components and share questions around the plot twist.
“The trailer editor deserves a raise, and perhaps even be paid for other trailer editorials,“ YouTube user @LM_Author commented. "This was a masterpiece of a trailer. There are so many questions in the viewers’ minds.”
Viewers have speculated what Harwood’s secret could be, with many taking to Reddit to voice their ideas.
“The spoiler I keep coming across is that she was planning a mass shooting at her school when she was younger, but she doesn't go through with it,” said user @btschika.
Many replied to this post, sharing differing theories about the wrongdoing, and some speculated that the intense reaction to her secret is unwarranted. Wondering if her story is simply of Thompson’s imagination.
“I feel like it’s Robert Pattinson having a nightmare, or just picturing it in his head,” user @StatementLazy1797 said.
While the plot twist will be unknown until the film releases, mystery surrounding “The Drama” is sure to drive ticket sales.
Later this year, Zendaya will star in “The Odyssey” (July), “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (July) and “Dune: Part Three” (December).
Alongside Zendaya, Pattinson will be in “The Odyssey” and “Dune: Part Three.” Additionally, he is set to star in “Here Comes the Flood,” a Netflix original thriller that completed filming January and is rumored to be released later this year.
“The Drama” will be released in theaters on April 3.
Cv592923@ohio.edu
