A new film starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya is drawing criticism from a victim’s family member over its central narrative device. The movie, a dark romantic comedy, follows a couple whose engagement is thrown into turmoil during a party game. The conflict arises when one character confesses to having once planned a school shooting, though they ultimately did not carry it out.
The father of a student killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting has publicly voiced his disapproval. He argues that using such subject matter as a plot point in a comedy-drama is deeply troubling. He further expressed concern over the film’s potential impact, suggesting that casting a widely admired actor in such a role could inadvertently soften the public’s perception of those who contemplate such violence, despite the story making it clear the attack was never executed.
The actor, when recently asked about the film’s challenging themes, described it as a hybrid of genres that sparks varied reactions and conversations among viewers. The studio behind the project has maintained a limited pre-release screening strategy, possibly to preserve the element of surprise. Early reactions from a small critics’ screening have been reportedly favorable, though official reviews are not yet available.
This is not the first time the film industry has grappled with the topic of school shootings. Past acclaimed works have included a dramatized interpretation that won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival and a documentary that received an Oscar. More recently, a short documentary focusing on the aftermath of such tragedies also earned an Academy Award.
The film’s distributors have not yet issued a public statement regarding the criticism.
