Drop Is a Modern Whodunit with Tech Terror and First-Date Tension – Review

‘Drop’ delivers tech-fueled terror with a side of first-date anxiety.

In Drop, director Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Freaky) once again blends horror with high-concept thrills, turning the simple act of checking your phone into a nightmare you can’t scroll away from. Part Happy Death Day, part Black Mirror, this slick, single-location whodunit puts modern technology front and center—and weaponizes it with chilling effect.

Set almost entirely within the upscale confines of a trendy restaurant, Drop stars 1923’s Brandon Sklenar and White Lotus Emmy nominee Meghann Fahy as two strangers on a promising first date. Fahy plays Violet, a widowed mom dipping her toe back into the dating pool, while Sklenar’s Henry is the seemingly perfect match—until things go sideways. As Violet begins receiving creepy, anonymous messages via her phone—complete with personalized memes—the evening turns terrifying.

It’s not just trolling; it’s blackmail. Violet is told she must follow instructions to the letter or her son and babysitting sister will be killed. No cops. No help. And worst of all? Her final task is to kill Henry.

Landon keeps the tension high and the audience guessing.

Everyone in the restaurant becomes a potential suspect or victim, adding layers to the mystery. The film flirts with themes of digital privacy, surveillance, and our addiction to constant connectivity—while also reminding us just how terrifying first dates already are.

Fahy gives a solid, grounded performance as a woman unraveling in real time, balancing panic with grit. Sklenar brings enough charm to make you root for him—until you start to wonder if you should. The rest of the cast, including Reed Diamond, Gabrielle Ryan, and more, help fill the restaurant with just enough red herrings to keep things interesting.

Drop does take a bit too long to get going. The setup, while important, drags in places, and the dialogue occasionally dips into cringe territory. That said, the film seems aware of its own heightened tone, never taking itself too seriously, and offers plenty of humor. And once the final twist hits, things go completely off the rails—in the best way.

Produced by genre giants Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes, Drop confidently leans into its high-concept horror.

Verdict

I give Drop 3.5 out of five stars. It’s playful, paranoid, and suspenseful—even if it sometimes buckles under the weight of its own ambition. If nothing else, Drop will make you think twice about connecting to public WiFi on your next night out.

Drop opens in theaters on April 11.

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