‘Drop’ (2025) Review – A Tight Thriller That Falters in the Final Act
Hey everyone, thanks for joining me for this review! Last night, I had the chance to catch an early screening of Drop, directed by Christopher Landon. I’m writing this the day after, on April 10th, just ahead of the film’s official weekend release. This is one of those small, contained thrillers that builds tension through a simple concept—and for most of its runtime, Drop delivers.
Let’s dive in.
The Details
Drop is a 95-minute thriller directed by Christopher Landon, known for Happy Death Day, Freaky, and some of the Paranormal Activity films. The screenplay comes from Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach, and it’s produced by a powerhouse team: Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller, Cameron Fuller, and Sam Lerner. It’s a Blumhouse production distributed by Universal Pictures, with a reported budget of $11 million—a Blumhouse sweet spot for turning modest budgets into tidy profits.
The film stars:
Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus) as Violet
Brandon Sklenar (1923, It Ends With Us) as Henry
Violett Beane as Jen, Violet’s sister
Jacob Robinson as Toby, Violet’s son
Supporting roles include Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, Jeffery Self, Ed Weeks, and Travis Nelson as various restaurant staff and patrons.
The film premiered at SXSW last month and is now making its theatrical debut.
The Premise
Violet, a widowed mother, is heading out on her first date in years with the charming Henry. Things quickly spiral out of control when, during their dinner at an upscale restaurant, she starts receiving a series of anonymous messages via the DigiDrop feature on her phone.
The messages threaten the lives of her son Toby and her sister Jen unless Violet follows a terrifying series of escalating demands... culminating in an order to kill her date.
What Works
Drop thrives on its simplicity. I’m a big fan of single-location thrillers, and this one makes excellent use of its confined setting to create rising tension. From the moment Violet sits down at the table, she’s uneasy—not just because it’s her first date in ages, but because of the lingering trauma from her past and the anxiety of leaving her son with her sister.
The film does a solid job of turning up the psychological pressure as Violet is surveilled and manipulated through increasingly intense “drops.” There's a well-played mystery around who’s behind it all, and the movie throws just enough red herrings (including a suspicious piano player) to keep you guessing for most of the runtime.
Meghann Fahy is the standout here. Her performance brings depth to Violet, who’s both vulnerable and resourceful. Brandon Sklenar does a good job as Henry, though the script doesn’t quite flesh him out enough for us to feel fully invested in his arc.
What Doesn’t Work
Unfortunately, the ending doesn’t hold up to the promise of the setup. Without spoiling anything, the third act reveal feels flat and predictable. For a story that does such a great job building tension and character ambiguity, the payoff is underwhelming. I found myself wishing they had pushed the envelope a bit more—Drop flirts with being techy, weird, and bold (à la M3GAN), but ultimately plays it a bit too safe.
There’s also a missed opportunity in the relationship between Violet and Henry. We get hints of shared trauma and vulnerability, but the script doesn’t give them enough time or space to truly connect. If we’d seen more of their interactions before the chaos, their bond—and the stakes—would have felt more believable.
Final Thoughts
Drop is a solid entry into the tech-thriller subgenre. It’s stylish, tense, and anchored by strong performances—especially from Meghann Fahy. But while it builds up suspense beautifully, the ending doesn’t quite land, and some of the character arcs feel a bit underdeveloped.
Still, I had a good time. For fans of contained thrillers, Drop is worth a watch—even if it doesn’t fully stick the landing. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars on Letterboxd, and I stand by that. It’s a quick, engaging ride with just enough mystery to keep you invested… even if the final stretch feels a bit familiar.