There are many different types of thrillers out there: horror thrillers, mystery thrillers… My guilty pleasure is the type of thriller where someone is stuck somewhere and has to do something against their will because of a mysterious villain. These movies often take place in one major location and they usually have big stakes.
I’m talking about movies such as Phone Booth, Carry On, Speed, and Panic Room. These are all fun movies that basically do the same thing. The new movie from Blumhouse, Drop, does more of the same. Even though it doesn’t add anything too new, it still is a solid time.
The plot follows Violet, a widowed mother who goes to an upscale restaurant to meet Henry, her charming and handsome date. However, her pleasant evening soon turns into a living nightmare when she receives phone messages from a mysterious, hooded figure who threatens to kill her young son and sister unless she kills Henry.
What is most impressive to me about Drop is how well it balances humor and tension. There are plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments where half the audience is holding their breath and the other half is talking at the screen. There are plenty of moments of humor that cut the tension well.
The movie wouldn’t work without its two leads. This is the definition of a B movie thriller. That is not an insult. There is a lot that doesn’t quite add up when you think too hard about it, but the movie doesn’t want you to think too hard. It wants you to have fun and care. We care because of our leads.
Meghann Fahy is believable as our widow-turned-hero. She is given a lot to do and does it well. Brandon Sklenar is charming and insanely likable in this as well. He really should be eyed for bigger projects. Someone call James Gunn and cast this man as Batman.
The only real negative here is the directing. The movie is shot well and looks great but certain choices don’t really work. Meghann Fahy, like I said, does an amazing job with what she is given, but she is also the worst date ever. There are many times she is looking around too much and making things very obvious that I couldn’t understand how her date didn’t run away screaming. I blame direction for this.
Also, even though this is a solid thriller, I honestly wanted something a little more crazy. Christopher Landon is the director of Happy Death Day and Freaky. He usually makes movies that do something wild and extra and have some sort of spin to them. An extra layer of creativity would have been welcomed.
Overall
Drop is a solid thriller from beginning to end. It has some strong performances and will leave you on the edge of your seat. The movie is filled with great acting and even though it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it is a pleasant addition. You probably won’t think of this movie for years to come but it doesn’t feel like Drop was made for that and that’s perfectly fine. The movie is here to entertain and it does that completely.
