Director Christopher Landon’s new feature film, Drop, has had trailers shown in theaters (and otherwise) for quite a while now. It was enough to get some attention and excitement from the filmmakers and cast’s fans for the SXSW Film & Television Festival held last month here in Austin. For those who were able to get into the Paramount Theater, hurray, but the rest of us waited until the following day to see it the next afternoon at another venue. Since I had seen the trailers so much ahead of the festival, I wondered if the trailers had somewhat spoiled some of the story. At that point, I was apprehensive, but much to my surprise, I was entertained by the suspense of this thriller, combined with the humor that the screenwriters, Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach (Truth or Dare and Fantasy Island), added to keep this engaging.
The setting takes place in two locations, and of course with camera technology available, it provides the audience with the opportunity to see what is happening in both places but keeping the suspense going across the big screen.
Meghann Fahy (The Unbreakable Boy, “The White Lotus” TV series) and Brandon Sklenar (It Ends with Us, “1923” TV series, Midway, 2019) star as two individuals who agree to go on a first date after what appears to be some delays. First dates or “blind” dates are never easy but then add in some added stress from an unknown source, it can send anyone close to the edge of a breakdown.
Violet (a single mom working as a therapist) and Henry (Sklenar), a professional photographer, meet at a luxurious dinner spot, high in the sky with a great view. Violet’s son, Troy (Jacob Robinson) stays at home with her sister, Jen (Violett Beane). After her experience of partner abuse from Toby’s father, she has been rather nervous about strangers around her home, like the utility meter reader, so there are many cameras in her home. She keeps an eye on her family while on the date and Henry is fine with it until he finally feels like she is too distracted.
Violet gets a series of drops on her phone, and they are menacing very soon, so much so she is warned not to convey anything to anyone. Feelings of being trapped in the situation, like her relationship with her former partner, making her more nervous. Despite this, with Violet’s story of survival of partner abuse, she thinks quickly and intelligently of being a survivor once again.
Producer: Jason Blum, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, Cameron Fuller. This review was filed from the world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. It opens in theaters on April 11th.
Source: SXSW and Universal Pictures
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