Drop (2025) is one of those movies that makes you think about the risks of getting the attention of a stalker online, well this is a risk that mostly woman attract on average but hey we all humans so why I cant attract a woman stalker, well that could be even scarier, that's what we call now days TOXICA, although there are deeper motives than just stalking on the movie. Director Christopher Landon decided to take the simple concept of a bad first date and turn it into a full blown nightmare scenario where your phone becomes your worst enemy and somehow he managed to make it work despite how ridiculous the whole premise sounds when you really think about it. Violet is the main character, the one getting all the attention from the stalker/killer, who's finally ready to get back into dating after some serious trauma in her past, she meets this guy Henry through a dating app and they decide to have dinner at this fancy restaurant called Palate, the movie is more of a traditional than realistic on how now days people actually use dating apps just to get laid and eventually get a partner. It all starts as a normal first date quickly turns into chaos when she starts getting these weird messages on her phone through some airdrop type app, they for sure got this concept out of the iPhone but probably didn't pay the rights to mention it, the person sending them wants her to do some messed up stuff or else her son and sister are going to get hurt. On this movie the trailer seemed to give away way too much of the plot but its the dialogue and the way they handled the technology aspect made it feel ok ish and entertaining to watch, mostly the suspense is what keeps you waiting but also tempt me to forward the movie when pacing drop. The restaurant setting looks very expensive and nice to have dinner but it also creates this claustrophobic feeling that works perfectly for the story, you really feel trapped with Violet as she tries to figure out how to get out of this impossible situation while pretending everything is normal with her date.
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The whole movie basically takes place in real time at this restaurant and director Landon does a great job of making you feel like you're right there with them, sweating through every awkward moment and panicking every time Violet's phone buzzes with another twisted message. Meghann Fahy who plays the role of main character Violet carries this movie on her shoulders the entire time, lets keep in mind this is the kind of movie on tight spaces and few characters, not easy to pull but she has to act like she's having a good time on this date while simultaneously dealing with the fact that someone is threatening to kill her family if she doesn't follow their instructions. Brandon Sklenar plays Henry and he is this perfect gentleman who hass being super patient with Violet even though she is acting completely insane throughout the entire evening, the poor guy has no idea what's happening and I kinda felt bad for him and anyone in his place who had a similar awkward first date but we always some how tries to salvage it, its very little ocations when I would just get up and be gone. The way they show the text messages on screen is really clever, instead of just cutting to her phone they integrate the messages into the environment around her, very Ironman translucent and keeps the tension high and makes you feel like you're experiencing the same paranoia she is. I never felt liek the movie was necessarily pushing any kind of messages in favor or against blind dating or dating apps period, I think it manages to be both a thriller and a commentary on dating anxiety specifically because even without the whole hostage situation Violet would probably still be nervous about getting back out there after everything she has been through. The restaurant itself becomes almost like another character in the movie, with all its fancy decorations and multiple levels creating this maze like environment where anyone could be watching and you never know who to trust.
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The pacing of Drop is ok for the most part for what it's trying to accomplish, it did felt like it's dragging but never felt rushing through important moments and the 90 minutes I was on this movie means it doesn't overextend the movie or try to milk the content. Director Landon seem to know how to build tension and never rush in to things or tried cheap tricks to keep you on the edge, from the way the camera moves around the restaurant almost like scanning the place during specific moments of tension. The mystery of who is sending the messages is handled really well, they give you enough clues to make you think you have figured it out but then they throw in some curve ball that keep you guessing, at least is not too obvious. What's interesting is how the movie works on multiple levels, it's obviously a thriller about a woman being blackmailed but it's also about trauma and how past experiences can make you feel powerless even in situations where you should have control. Violet's backstory with her abusive ex husband adds a base of tension, like she has to always be on high alert because you understand why she is so hesitant to trust people and why she feels like she has to handle everything on her own. The technology incorporated is handled pretty believably, it doesnt feel over the top like say on movies The Accountant with hacker kids controlling the place and doing all kind of hacking stunts for the most part, the whole DigiDrop thing makes sense and the way they explain how the villain is able to monitor everything feels plausible enough for the most part of the audience who is not techy enough. Henry character I think is well develop enough as he is not just some perfect prince charming who saves the day, he is a real person with his own issues and trauma which makes their connection and chemistry feel real, plus the dialogue between Violet and Henry is probably the strongest part of the movie, their conversations feel natural and you can see why they would be attracted to each other under normal circumstances.
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Towards half of the movie there is a moment when the movie shifts from being a psychological thriller to more of an action movie, which might not work for everyone, I say this because it didnt click with me that much although I think its necessary since every time during this kind of movies when there is someone getting stalk and blackmail when the villain gets caught by the police without a fight its a bit boring and kills the mood right there. The way things end involves some pretty outrageous moments that require you to turn your brain off a bit, dont over think it because you going to wreck the movie for you, by that point I was invested in the characters and movie so I just go with it. Drop (2025) manages to make you care about these characters in a short amount of time, you truly want Violet and Henry to work out despite all the chaos happening around them, in the back there is this romance, very thin but its there so you going to root for them. The movie also does a good job of showing how technology can be both helpful and terrifying used for the wrong reasons, the same tools that allow us to connect with people can also be used to manipulate and control us, it has always been like this, nothing new but makes you think about it how a chat system can be so powerful just as someone talking in public, power of words. The cinematography and how neat the restaurant scenes are is really impressive too, they make great use of the restaurant setting and the views of the city create this sense of being high above everything while still feeling trapped.
Drop turned out to be way better than I expected it to be although I cant give it a high score since for me its a movie to kill some time, to make things easier its a streaming movie not a cinema movie for me, it takes a simple story and executes it really well without trying to be more than it is. The movie knows exactly what it wants to be and it delivers on that promise, it's entertaining and engaging and it doesn't waste your time with unnecessary subplots or characters, its a very focus and narrow movie. Fahy and Sklenar have great chemistry together and you believe their connection even under these extreme circumstances which is crucial for making the whole thing work. The technology aspect feels current and relevant without being preachy about it and the thriller side of the movie handled with just the right amount of suspense. There are some moments where you have to suspend your disbelief and the ending gets pretty ridiculous but that's part of the fun, let remember its a movie not a documentary or educative content, we go into movies to get out of reality, but the movie respects its audience's intelligence as it doesn't spell everything out for you and it trusts that you will be able to follow along with the mystery as it develops. Drop is definitely worth checking out, although I think this movie would be a bigger or will be bigger at streaming platforms to be a consider a streaming platform gem.
