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The Drama’ Opens With Solid Reviews and Backlash Over A24’s Marketing

Backlash centers on a wedding-themed campaign that concealed a darker turn.

Overview

  • The A24 release, which opened Friday, earned roughly an 80% Rotten Tomatoes score even as viewers reacted strongly to its early reveal.
  • March for Our Lives criticized the film’s wedding-themed promotion on Thursday, saying it misled audiences by downplaying sensitive subject matter.
  • Public pushback began before release, with TMZ quoting a Columbine victim’s father condemning the premise and Reddit resurfacing a 2012 essay by director Kristoffer Borgli.
  • Critics broadly praise Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s performances, while reviews differ on whether the film’s provocation leads to insight or just shock.
  • Coverage notes that glossy press events, bridal outfits, and a Las Vegas chapel stunt set expectations for a rom-com, which many viewers say clashed with the film’s darker focus.