#REVIEW: “DROP”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Trying to write a ‘new’ Horror movie isn’t an easy task when it seems everything under the sun has really been done already. But sometimes it’s just about the right blend of Comedy and Terror along with some well-thought performances that can make a movie stand apart from the pack. DROP thankfully, has aScript co-written by Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach (the team behind Truth or Dare and Fantasy Island) and is directed by Christopher Landon (Freaky and Happy Death Day), which amount to an experience that is sure to delight audiences.

Drop focuses on Therapist Violet (Meghann Fahy) who is a single mother after going through a traumatic life event and finally agrees to go on a date with someone whose been swooning her for the past few months on a dating app. Hesitant to leave her son, Toby (Jacob Robinson) with her sister, Jen (Violett Beane), she finally agrees to go on this date and not bail on Henry (Brandon Sklenar). They meet, despite Henry being a little late and everything is off to a relatively normal start. This is until Violet starts getting airdrop type messages of meme’s that start off as harmless at first but turn more sinister as time goes on, instructing her to kill her date or her son will die. Thinking this is a sinister prank until she reviews her home cameras and realizes her son’s life is in danger, Violet has to make the decision between saving her son or committing murder, and the clock is ticking.

While the premise of Drop is certainly far-fetched and over the top, it’s not completely out of left field. Well getting airdrops of threatening memes and being asked to commit murder to protect your family is certainly a wild choice, the reveal as to why Henry was targeted ends up being something much more plausible and reasonable to assume this *could* happen. As well, Jacobs and Roach have left the supernatural esque elements of their other two efforts before this is more grounded in reality and technology, and with Landon at the helm the comedy and stylistic choices come out front and create something enjoyable and entertaining for the audience to get captivated by.

While there is an entertaining Script with strong direction, it would not work without a Leading Cast bringing their A-game to the forefront to capture the intensity and mystery of everything. Jeffery Self who plays Matt the eccentric waiter who is serving Violet and Henry all night is giving the most in his performance, breaking the tension and awkwardness of a first date with his comedic ability and charm. However, Fahy and Sklenar are great and share incredible chemistry with each other; it’s a first date so everything is bound to be awkward anyways, but adding the extra element of  mystery ‘drops’ adds a fun twist to a bad date, giving us intrigue.

Everything just works here. Drop will leave you at the edge of your seat!

Universal Pictures Canada release DROP in theatres on Friday April 11, 2025.