“White Boy Scared” is part of the plot in A24’s newest addition to its creative catalog, “The Drama.” Like the studio’s other projects, the film blends convention and controversy in the way A24 has become known for.
The film stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson play Emma and Charlie, a couple preparing for their wedding. The story takes place during the week leading up to the ceremony, as they are joined by their friends Mike (Mamoudou Athie) and Rachel (Alana Haim) to choose the wine for the celebration. During the evening, following the large amount of wine consumed, the group plays a game in which each person confesses the worst thing they’ve ever done. The game begins after Emma expresses uncertainty about firing their wedding disc jockey for drug use, prompting a debate among the group about what justifies firing someone.
To everyone’s surprise, Emma drunkenly reveals that she has a dark past; she wanted to commit an alarming act at her high school and created a manifesto. The confession leaves everyone disoriented and the room in uneasy silence.
The rest of the film explores the aftermath of the confession, focusing on Charlie’s anxiety and internal conflict after learning about Emma’s past. Her revelation makes him question his entire reality and perception of his fiancée, as he seeks a path toward forgiveness or even understanding. In doing so, he creates a new set of obstacles that ultimately come crashing down on the two.
The performances alone are worth discussion. Zendaya delivers a phenomenal portrayal of Emma as she navigates the sensitive subject matter. Patterson captures Charlie’s emotional turmoil as he searches for forgiveness or some kind of clarity. Haim’s performance evokes frustration and disbelief, making it impossible not to roll your eyes at her character.
Despite the outstanding performances, the film has sparked controversy. Many viewers, perhaps due to a lack of media literacy, expected a light and enjoyable rom-com. As audiences should have gathered from the trailer and the studio’s reputation, the products of A24 tend to include more contemplative or unsettling plot devices, like “The Materialists” (2025). “The Drama” followed a similar marketing strategy, framing the movie as a romantic comedy. But the romance storyline turned out to be not much more than a subplot. The film instead centers on the chaos leading up to a wedding following the realization of horrifying information about your partner.
However, no one would have guessed that the plot twist in “The Drama” would involve gun violence. For the film’s theatrical element of shock and the wow factor, it skims over a lot of triggering material and, dare I say, sensitive topics.
For A24, taking on the subject of gun violence is daring, especially given the rise in school shootings across the United States. The film is often difficult to watch, with graphic vomit-centered jump scares, and closely following young Emma’s twisted thought process. However, the movie might have benefited from spending more time with present-day Emma, giving audiences a more in depth look at her character beyond Charlie’s memories. Regardless, hopefully the difficult topics will ignite meaningful, empathetic conversation instead of being tiptoed around by audiences. The movie attempts to address taboo topics in a dark, yet satirical way, but the question remains: Is the world ready for that?
It’s interesting to see how each character deflects responsibility, pointing fingers rather than acknowledging their own faults. The movie doesn’t have a clear-cut villain; instead posing moral and philosophical questions that prompt viewers to assess their own values. It also explores the idea of unconditional love and whether such a thing truly exists, or what can be forgiven or not, especially when in a romantic relationship.
Arguably, Zendaya and Patterson are among the most beautiful people in the world, yet their characters embody cruel, deeply disturbing traits, forcing viewers to consider what it means to date someone primarily for their looks.
Either way, people are lining up to see this movie with high anticipation, hoping to witness the next best rom-com or having their interest piqued by spoilers online. Pulling in larger conversations about dating culture, “The Drama” reflects a world where an obsession with aesthetics and personal branding is on the rise. It prompts questions about how well you actually know your partner and whether you can really trust them, or if obtaining that is even possible?
