The Drama (2026) Dir: Kristoffer Borgli

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This Kristoffer Borgli directed film, produced by A24, has caused quite the stir in the short time since it has released - something which has only made me more excited to go and see it, having already been intrigued by the marketing for the film, prior to its run in cinemas. It has already garnered some pretty solid scores on various review sites, although the praise has not been synonymous - a fact that kept my expectations very much in check.

I really enjoyed the cinematography, throughout the film. The slightly grainy look to the film, combined with the smart use of focus, really suited the intimate camerawork, and gave it a sentimental, almost nineties, feel, that I enjoyed thoroughly. The eb and flow of the soundtrack was spot-on, especially the sudden breaks and crescendos, which were edited together with the relevant scenes brilliantly.

The narrative was truly unexpected, which is not way to do in the modern age of storytelling, where virtually everything has been done before. The film's big twist was not what I expected, and the way the plot escalated as a result of it was both wildly entertaining and, in the best way, extremely stressful. This was a great example of how to do unpredictability well - the film takes the audience on one hell of a ride, building in suspense and drama, and culminating in a chaotic and wild climactic scene. I really loved the ending too - it was a great way to leave the film.

Robert Pattinson is one of the best actors of this generation - if not the best - and this performance only solidified that opinion, for me. He was excellent. He escalated and de-escalated his acting perfectly, and absolutely nailed the awkward comedy, which helped some of the wilder scenes hit even better. This is a bold statement to say this early in the year, but I would not be surprised to see Pattinson's performance talked about come awards season next year - he was that good, in my opinion.

Zendaya has one of the best 'trembling and near-tears' reactions in cinema, and she utilised it to great effect at various points in this film. Although she was funny, at times, it was her dramatic acting that really did the work here. Her reactions to the various events in the film were genuinely top tier. I genuinely feel that you would be hard-pushed to find an actor working today who can act with their eyes in a more telling and compelling way than Zendaya.

Alana Haim deserves huge praise for her reactions alone. Her facial expressions were truly exemplary, as she sold the drama of each of her scenes superbly. She stole a number of scenes in the film, and left a hugely memorable impression upon me. Don't sleep on Haim. There were also two really good, though slightly less memorable performances from two other cast members, in Mamoudou Athie and Hailey Benton Gates.

Overall, whilst I can see why the film has been divisive for some people, I absolutely loved it. The tension, the drama, and the absolute absurdity of the film was exceedingly entertaining to watch unfold, and I truly wasn't sure quite how everything would unfold until it did. This was a deliciously dramatic ride, which had me with my hands over my mouth, on my head and, almost, over my eyes, at many different points. This was an unforgettable and unflinchingly good comedy drama - just remember to breathe while you watch it.