This is a film I have been waiting for to come out in cinemas for probably over a month now when I first saw the trailer. Firstly, when I saw that Meghann Fahy was the lead, that had already sold it for me, as she is from one of my favourite series ever “The Bold Type” which I watch over and over again, so already I was immediately interested. When I had finished the trailer, I then knew I had to 1000% see this film. I love a thriller, mostly because they have so much mystery and the atmosphere in this one seems intense! Another thing that caught my eye is that it’s like a “who’s behind it” kind of plot and I always enjoy putting my detective head on and trying to figure out who is behind the drama, especially when there is more than one suspect. I didn’t read any film critic reviews before I went to watch this, as if they were bad, I didn’t want to go already disappointed, and I wanted to go with an open mind, so here is my honest spoiler free review on what I thought of “Drop.”
Drop was released on the 11th of April and is directed by Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day) and written by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach (Fantasy Island). The film is labelled as a drama/mystery/thriller, which I would agree with. There’s definitely a lot of suspense. Drop is about a widowed mother who goes on her first date in years at a restaurant where she meets her date, Henry (Brandon Sklenar). Things take a terrifying turn when Violet begins to be terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone. She is instructed to tell nobody and follow instructions or else Violet’s young son and babysitting sister will be killed. This leaves Violet questioning if her charming date is behind the harassment or perhaps someone else at the restaurant. The title of the film is a reference to the AirDrop feature on Apple’s iPhone. A feature that allows you to share pictures and videos with other phones within your proximity. Something that I have heard real-life horror stories about.
The script of “Drop” showcases a brilliant blend of sharp dialogue and intricate character development. The writing style effectively captures the film’s dramatic tone but also with a lot of suspense. It immerses you in the emotional turmoil faced by the characters. It gets you thinking as to what you would do if you were faced with that situation. The dialogue feels authentic and relatable. It captures the awkwardness of a first date perfectly, and that’s something most of us can relate to, especially the small talk at the beginning. The script is also clever as to how it throws you off scent. You are introduced to quite a range of different characters, and you, as the viewer, question whether it’s a character you think you can trust and rule out of the equation or not. The build up of tension and suspense is of a steady pace that keeps you engaged throughout, you never lose interest as your focused on all the details big and small that will help you to try and work out who is behind the drops.
Everyone plays their own characters extremally well, making their personas believable and having an equal amount of suspicion of each individual. Meghann Fahy played violet so well, keeping us captivated with her performance throughout, portraying the characters’ struggles beautifully. You get frustrated with her character at times, but she did an exceptional job, and I hope this leads to more lead roles in the future for her. Brandon Sklenar also does a fantastic job in portraying his character. He has the patience of a saint, and you feel sorry for him. I found myself questioning what was going through his mind the further we got into the film. We can’t not mention Jeffery Self, who plays the incredible waiter, Matt. He had me and others in the cinema, laughing out loud at points without taking away the suspense of the film. Jeffrey had you wanting to see more from his character as again, he was relatable and very likeable from the beginning, but also has the innocence to him.
The cinematography in “Drop” is truly remarkable. The use of lighting plays a significant role in creating the film’s mood, with darker tones during tense moments and brighter colours in more uplifting scenes. The same goes for the sound with a contrast between complete silence and more natural noise, which is key to creating the atmosphere. The camera work is also impressive. There are some really creative angles and movements that enhance the storytelling. I don’t know if it’s because I’m doing a photography course at the moment as to why I noticed these angles more and wondered how they filmed certain shots, but it’s impressive! The close-up shots of the characters’ faces allow us to see their emotions more upfront, allowing us to feel more connected to their experiences. There weren’t many different locations to play around with, but how those were framed added to depth to the narrative. Overall, the cinematography not only supports the story but also elevates the visual experience of the film.
Overall, I thought the movie was really good. I will mark it down in points just because there is a bit that was predictable but that didn’t matter because the crucial part to the storyline is who was behind it all and like I said, that part was not obvious. There’s a few mini twists which I really enjoyed as they were things you didn’t see coming and the small interactions with the different characters you met at the restaurant were a pleasurable watch as each one had a completely different personality. I loved how they made use of the restaurant, and as previously mentioned, the camera shots are really quite something. The film was fun and refreshing, and I admire a modern take on a thriller with the whole “drop” messages. It’s a great concept. The trailer doesn’t give as much away as you think, so don’t let that put you off. If you are a fan of thriller films with a hint of old-school slasher mixed in, then you will definitely enjoy this film and should give it a watch.
Will you be going to watch Drop? If you have already, please let me know your thoughts!
Amy x
littlemissminor.com 