The Drama Plot Twist | 2 Surprisingly Startling Moments Happened

The Drama plot twist will have your jaw on the floor.

The long-awaited A24 movie starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson is here! But don’t expect the lovey-dovey, cutesy, and covert romance that Tomdaya brings, because when it comes to The Drama, we cross our fingers that art doesn’t imitate life.

People who aren’t familiar with A24 probably expected your typical romantic drama about some minor inconveniences a couple encounters as they prepare for their wedding, but no. 

This dark satirical film packed some completely unpredictable plot twists. 

And although the film expertly stacks suspense upon suspense to keep you guessing til the very end, I would still argue that marital love still holds the focal point in the film’s themes. 

So let’s talk about the crazy The Drama plot twist, and how that speaks to the greater theme of marriage, for better or for worse. 

** This Review Contains Spoilers!!!***

The Drama Plot Twist & Outcomes

The Drama follows a couple the week leading up to their wedding as unspoken secrets and fears unfold, creating a mix of paranoia and distrust that builds up to the big day. 

Plot Twist #1

The question that sets this film in motion is, What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?

Early on in the film, we learn of Emma’s (Zendaya’s) worst thing, and when I tell you, it had me jaw-dropped. 

Fueled by liquid courage during a wine tasting, Zendaya confesses to her fiancé, Charlie (Robert Pattinson), and the wedding’s chief attendants (maid of honor Rachel (Alan Haim) and best man Mike (Mamoudou Athie)) that when she was 15, she planned a school shooting. 

…

Yeah, no one saw that one coming.

And although Emma didn’t follow through with the plan and actually ended up becoming an anti-gun activist in the process. Her friends and her fiancé are dumbfounded, even personally offended, by the confession since the maid of honor, Rachel, has a family member who was disabled in a mass shooting. 

The rest of the film is unhinged by this revelation, with Charlie descending into an anxious spiral. 

Should he still marry her?

How well does he really know his soon-to-be wife?

Is she a dangerous person?

This spiral sends us into the film’s 2nd plot twist. 

Plot Twist #2

The day before his wedding, Charlie can hardly focus at work and engages his coworker Misha (Hailey Gates) in a hypothetical – if she were to discover that her partner had almost committed a mass shooting, what would she do?

This conversation only exacerbates Charlie’s anxiety to the point where he is incapable of managing the intensity of his emotions. 

Without warning, he pulls Misha in and begins intensely making out with her to the point where he’s ripping her shirt off. 

This is where my jaw dropped again. 

And at this point, you’re probably thinking Misha is pushing him away like – “No, Charlie stop! I have a boyfriend!” But no – what does this gardening tool do? She turns around and bends over the table like the self-proclaimed cheater that she is. Thankfully, Charlie comes to his senses before going any further, guilt flooding him. 

The Wedding Day

The day of the wedding arrives, and everyone is on edge. Misha and her boyfriend, who looks like he’s never skipped a day in the gym, are present. The paranoia inevitably leads to Charlie’s secret being spilled, that he cheated on Emma with Misha. 

Long story short, Charlie ends the night, face fully bloodied after being headbutted by Misha’s boyfriend. Emma takes off into the night to escape on her own.

Miserable and in pain, Emma and Charlie both separately decide to go to the diner they had contemplated having their post-wedding celebration in earlier in the film. 

Instead of harping on Charlie’s painful and public betrayal, Emma approaches Charlie with a clean slate, allowing them to start over as if their offenses never happened. 

This radical act of forgiveness models the level of unconditional love required in a marriage, allowing Charlie to also let go and finally release Emma from the sins of her past. 

What is love if not unconditional?

It’s easy to love someone at their best, but true love is loving someone at their worst.

Choosing to see the best in someone, even on their worst days. 

Although people see this movie and think, “Well, forget getting married,” or even develop a fear of marrying the wrong person, The Drama is ultimately a portrayal of how terrifying and messy truly loving someone can be.  

Unresolved Suspicions

Before I conclude, can we talk about how suspicious Charlie was being since the beginning of the film?

A lot of the intrigue that kept me really invested in the film was the question of, “What is Charlie hiding?”

With his deceitful introduction to Emma, pretending to know the book she was reading, to the insistance of having a performative first dance, to refilling her wine glass unprompted right before she spilled her damning secret, to creepily cornering Rachel’s disabled cousin — something is off with him.

His high-strung need to control everything made me believe that Charlie was exacting a long con on Emma and that whatever secret he was hiding would be far worse than whatever secret Emma reveals. 

So I was surprised when the movie ended, and Charlie’s sins were on a short list. 

In Conclusion…

The Drama successfully executed realistic and believable characters, shocking plot twists, and humorous moments that make you feel guilty for laughing at something so dark. 

Another successful project featuring Zendaya with a well-paced 1.75 hour runtime. 

If you haven’t watched it already, I’d definitely recommend giving the film a shot (if you know what I mean…).

Rating: 8.5/10

Last Updated on 04/16/2026 by IMO Flicks