Robert Pattinson and Zendaya's film ‘The Drama’ faces criticism over dark twist

‘The Drama,’ the new Robert Pattinson and Zendaya film, faces growing criticism after a major plot reveal drew backlash ahead of its wider release. The dark romantic comedy, written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, follows an engaged couple whose relationship is shaken during a game in which they are asked to reveal “the worst thing you’ve ever done.” According to reports, Zendaya’s character says she once planned a school shooting but backed out, a plot point that has drawn sharp objections from some viewers and from the father of a Columbine victim.As reported by The Guardian, Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was killed in the 1999 Columbine school shooting, called the use of that subject in a romantic comedy “awful.” Mauser, who became a gun reform advocate after the massacre, also raised concerns about how the film’s twist was discussed during Zendaya’s recent appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ where she spoke about the movie’s mixed tone and audience reaction. On ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ Zendaya said, “It is a romantic comedy in many ways, but it’s also a drama. Everybody has their feelings when leaving the theater, especially after the big twist. Mauser, casting a star as widely admired as Zendaya, said, "There are so many conversations that happen after you watch it." Humanizing people linked to that kind of violence and normalizing school shootings, even though the character refrains from carrying out an attack, and no mass violence appears onscreen.A24 has not screened the film widely, and reviews remain under embargo until March 31, according to The Guardian. Even so, reactions from a small early screening in the United States were broadly positive, suggesting the film is already receiving a positive response before release. The debate has also revived discussion about earlier works tied to Columbine, including Gus Van Sant’s ‘Elephant’ and Michael Moore’s ‘Bowling for Columbine,’ as attention around ‘The Drama’ keeps growing.