“Drop” is a minimalist thriller that tries to captivate its audience by placing its characters in increasingly impossible situations in a claustrophobic setting. It’s a formula that has worked in the past with films like “The Shallows,” “10 Cloverfield Lane” and “The Strangers” to name a few. Unfortunately, “Drop” doesn’t quite make it to the height of those films.
Here’s what worked, what didn’t and why this thriller feels like it misses the mark.
The good
The intrigue keeps you guessing
One of the standout elements of “Drop” is how it builds intrigue. The premise is simple but effective: A woman on a first date gets a drop message on her phone, threatening to kill her son unless she kills her date. This raises a slew of questions: Why him? Why now? Who is orchestrating this? And who in the restaurant is pulling the strings? These questions keep you hooked and invested in the movie as you try to piece together the puzzle.
The filmmakers also give glimpses into the main character’s life, offering background on how she ended up in this impossible situation. These elements raise even more questions, including unresolved personal history that keeps you on your toes. While some of the answers are a bit lazy or cliché, the film does a decent job of paying off the questions it sets up, leaving you with some sense of closure by the end.
The OK
OK pacing for a minimalist thriller
Given the movie’s minimal cast and limited setting, maintaining interest is a tricky task. “Drop” does a decent job of keeping tension high by constantly throwing new challenges at its protagonist. Although there’s a fair amount of downtime, the unanswered questions from the early scenes keep you invested and the slow buildup toward action sequences helps maintain momentum.
The film feels like it’s spinning its wheels, at times, leaving you wishing things would move a bit faster.
It’s a relatively short film, only 1 hour and 35 minutes, but it feels longer than that as we’re slogging through some of the same “dangers” over and over again.
The not-so-good
A missed opportunity for fun
This might sound strange, given the premise of the film, but “Drop” is simply not as fun as it could have been. The director’s previous work on “Happy Death Day” and “Freaky” set certain expectations for a more playful tone, but “Drop” doesn’t deliver on that front.
While the film’s subject matter is heavy, the story — about a woman being forced to murder someone to save her son — could still have benefited from a bit of dark humor or a playful edge. Instead, the tone is more serious and the tension feels heavier than necessary.
There’s one character who’s played for laughs and while it works occasionally, it feels like a missed opportunity. The humor is sparse, and when it does arrive, it doesn’t land as effectively as it could have.
Given the director’s background in horror/thrillers with a more playful tone, “Drop” feels a bit too earnest for its own good, leaving the audience wondering what might have been if the film embraced more levity.
What parents should know
“Drop” is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references. While the violence isn’t overly graphic, the themes of abuse and the implications of the violence can be tough to stomach. The abuse is depicted in an unsettling way, even if the visuals aren’t grisly. It’s a movie for older teens, but definitely not one for family movie night.
Conclusion
“Drop” is fine. That’s the best way I can sum it up. It’s not a disaster — but it doesn’t reach the heights of similar thrillers that have come before. The film has its moments, with a solid premise and decent pacing, but the slow build and missed opportunities for humor make it feel like it’s lacking in some key areas.
If you’re looking for a minimalist thriller that keeps you guessing, “Drop” is passable. But if you’re hoping for the same fun and energy that director Christopher Landon brought to “Happy Death Day” you might be disappointed.
Is it worth heading to the theater? Probably not, but it could be a decent pick for a night in. If you’re in the mood for a more well-rounded thriller, “Red Eye,” from 2005, is a stronger option. Is a very similar premise but executed much better.
“Drop” is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, suicide, some strong language and sexual references.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.