The Stream: The middle drags a bit.

The Big Screen: Filled with suspense and edge-of-your-seat moments with an engaging performance from Meghann Fahy.

The Final Bill: An entertaining and suspenseful thriller despite the familiar storyline.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Christopher Landon
Writers: Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach
Stars: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, Ed Weeks
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references.
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Production Companies: Blumhouse Productions, Platinum Dunes, Wild Atlantic Pictures, Universal Pictures
Platform: In theater April 11, 2025
Notable Trailers: Shadow Force, On Swift Horses, Sinners, Jurassic World Rebirth, Megan 2.0

What’s up, Streamers!? Movies nowadays have to integrate all this new fangled technology into their plots. From Megan and its upcoming sequel to Searching and that other John Cho movie, Afraid, filmmakers are taking our technological fears and projecting them onto the big screen. In this weekend’s new release, Drop, we see what happens when AirDrops are weaponized. Here, Violet (Meghann Fahy), a widowed mother of a 5-year-old, goes on a first date with Henry (Brandon Sklenar), who she’s been talking to online for 3 months, when she begins to receive mysterious “digiDrops” that become threatening as the night goes on. As the date goes on, Violet must comply with the messages or face the consequences which put her son’s life in danger. Nightmarish first date hijinks ensue.

Drop is a thriller that has a similar plot as many others of its kind, like Red Eye or Carry-On, but that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining. The director, Christopher Landon, has constructed a pretty tight, 90-minute movie that is suspenseful and ratchets up the tension until it’s exciting conclusion. The screenplay is good because it adds in enough information about the main characters to make the audience care what happens to them. However, there is a stretch of about 5 to 10 minutes in the middle where there’s too much expositional character development that almost grinds the movie to a halt. On the other hand, the leading lady, Meghann Fahy, has a very engaging and empathetic presence. She portrays the distress of the situation very well and never seems like a typical dumb heroine like many others are in this type of movie. Also, Brandon Sklenar is sufficiently patient and charming to be a realistic romantic prospect for this woman despite the crazy circumstances of the date.

Ultimately, Drop is an entertaining thriller that has suspense and a strong lead performance. While the movie is generally well-paced, it does have lull in the middle that nearly derails its forward momentum. Drop isn’t reinventing the wheel of suspense thrillers, but it does the genre well-enough. This movie is good enough for a matinee viewing with a bowl of popcorn.