Drop Review - Hilariously thrilling first date from hell

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“Self-defense is not just a set of techniques; it’s a state of mind, and it begins with the belief that you are worth defending.” - Rorion Gracie

Twenty-three years ago, director Joel Schumacher made a contained little thriller called Phone Booth, starring Colin Farrell. It was in many ways a reflection of its time when cell phones were in the midst of a technological takeover and outdated technology like public use phone booths were quickly becoming a thing of the past. Flip phones were all the craze and the number of phone booths still operating were dwindling. A theme in the movie is tech climbing to the forefront of humanity’s everyday life. We were beginning to value screen time over human interaction at an alarming rate and the villain’s twisted but timely message was one of not only paying attention to those around you but to never forgo respect out of some misplaced self-importance as if your time is always more valuable.

Cut to 2025, technology, particularly smartphones, have unequivocally taken over mankind’s ability to live beyond a glowing screen almost always distinctly in the palm of our hands. Has this tech made life easier? In a lot of ways, absolutely. Has it made us more miserable as well? In a lot of ways, absolutely. In the modern era, we have somehow simultaneously become more connected and less understanding. We have lost our ability to empathize with one another and often the root of this problem fits comfortably in our pockets.

It has made one of the most cherished practices of human beings, courtship, and turned it into a gallery to be judged, poked, prodded and (if you’re a guy) be turned down a maddening amount of times before ultimately deleting your profile and the app and deciding it just isn’t worth it. But enough about me.

Sometimes however, or so I’ve heard, two people can actually decide to give each other the time of day which can lead to one of the most awkward encounters a human can endure — the first date. For most in their twenties, baggage isn’t usually the biggest concern for two discerning parties hoping to connect. But as we get older and life comes at you with both hands clenched and a serious attitude problem to boot, suddenly that first date has an entirely new meaning and an entirely new set of implications. It gets to a point where experience is pretty much guaranteed to glom onto every aspect of whom we perceive ourselves to be. And that can shape who we believe others want us to be, especially from newly acquainted strangers we find sitting across from us at a nice restaurant asking us about our lives, professional and otherwise.

Enter Violet and Henry. Baggage very much in tow. 

For Violet, this first date is about re-entering the world after great personal tragedy has shaped her perception of what it means to be in a relationship. She is understandably nervous and apprehensive. But she also understands the importance of finding purpose beyond a single moment that seemingly wants to define everything about who she is and who she hopes to become. 

For Henry, he’s trying to find the good within himself that he believes has been lost to indecision in the face of great wrongdoing and a fleeting chance at justice. For him, this potential new chapter is a fresh start. Little does Henry know that as he orders the appetizers an entire plot line is taking place between Violet and a mystery presence on her phone. As Henry hopes to make a good impression and win the coveted second date, Violet is quietly fighting for her life and the life of her family. “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

Meghann Fahy plays Violet, a broken but healing woman just trying to put herself out there hoping for the best. Fahy is the driving force behind the wheel of a brakeless sedan set on fire (metaphorically) that is this story and somehow she balances the emotional onslaught. She is a vessel at sea navigating a storm forcing her to turn in every direction imaginable just to stay afloat. She is all at once scared, angry, determined and unfortunately for her mental state, discovering that maybe her preconceived notions about other people may not be far off. She is tasked with an emotionally strained, manically driven character who finds herself in pure survival mode and she is an absolute revelation. She is our vicarious guide into the depths of a first date from hell and it’s an extraordinary ride in large part because of her. 

Giving this a flavor all its own is the brilliantly vivacious cinematography that allows its characters their glory when required and then perfectly times its moments to aggressively shape a scene with dizzying camera effects and tremendously efficient editing all in hopes of adding an unyielding kind of fuel to an already heinous situation. It is as lively and chaotic as this horrifying swipe right gone immeasurably wrong.   

Drop is a taut thriller mostly contained to a single location, a fancy restaurant giving new meaning to fine dining entirely. It is unexpectedly efficient at bridging each moment to the next, always doing its best to explain each newly introduced plot point. The cast is stellar and hilariously convincing making for a continuously tension riddled thrill ride that only gets more hectic and unstable as their first date barrels toward its ultimate and inevitable conclusion. (insert emoji face here)

Rated PG-13 For: strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references

Runtime: 100 minutes

After Credits Scene: No

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Starring: Meghann Fahy, Brandon Sklenar, Violett Beane, Reed Diamond

Directed By: Christopher Landon

Out of 10

Story: 8.5/ Acting: 9/ Directing: 8.5/ Visuals: 8

OVERALL: 8.5/10

Buy to Own: Yes.

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Check out the trailer below: